NOV   it  1995 


1541 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


SABBATH  CONVENTION, 


iw      Xi  »    I   . 


V*  HELD  AT 


THE   CITY  OF  ROCHESTER, 


Jcily  20tb  and  2lisC,  1842, 


PUBLISftED     BY     DIRECTION     OF     TWE     COI^VENTION. 


ROCHESTER: 

WILLIAM    ALLING,    PRlNTfcft* 


DEC     7  »W2 


THE  SABBATH  CONVENTION. 


The  Convention  met  at  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  the  city  of  Ro- 
Chester,  on  Wednesday,  July  20th,  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  following  Circular  : 

CONVENTION. 

To  the  Friends  of  the  Sabbalh,  in  Western  New-York : 

The  Sabbath,  in  all  its  influence — in  its  acknowledged  bear- 
ings on  the  physical,  mental,  social  and  moral  improvement  of  man- 
kind— on  their  welfare  and  happiness  as  individuals,  and  their  pros- 
perity as  communities — on  their  prospects,  whether  for  this  world  or 
the  next,  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  our  civil  and  religious  in- 
stitutions. With  its  right  observance  and  improvement  are  connected 
the  most  invaluable  blessings  ;  with  its  desecration,  detriment  and 
suffering,  and  the  frowns  of  Him  who  is  the  God  o'l  ■providence  as  well 
as  ^race. 

Though  mucli  has  indeed  been  done  within  the  few  past  years,  for 
the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  much  more  rcmams  to  hd  done. 
To  extend  information  and  correct  views  on  this  all  important  sub- 
ject ;  to  awaken  interest  by  discussion  and  a  comparison  of  senti- 
ments ;  to  elevate  the  standard  of  the  Sabbath's  observance  ;  to  im- 
press its  obligations  and  the  high  advantages  of  its  right  improve- 
ment ;  to  consider  what  may  be  done  for  extending  and  giving  power 
to  its  instructions  and  worship — in  staying  its  desecration  on  our  post- 
routes  and  rail-roads,  lakes,  rivers  and  canals,  thus  securing  as  their 
inalienable  right,  the  rest  and  other  invaluable  benefits  of  the  Sabbath 
to  hundreds  of  thousands  of  boatmen  and  others  now  obliged  to  labor 
on  that  day  ;  to  inquire,  in  short,  how  its  highest  blessings  may  best 
be  extended  to  our  entire  land  ;  these  are  a  kvf  of  the  many  objects 
and  ends  that  are  dear  to  every  friend  of  sound  policy,  patriotism, 
humanity,  and  religion. 

With  these  views  and  objects,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  Roches- 
ter, respectfully  and  earnestly  invite  a  Convention  of  Western  New- 
York,  to  meet  and  deliberate  on  the  subject  of  the  Sabbath,  at  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Rochester,  on  Wednesd;iy,  the  20th  of  July, 
at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  The  Convention  will  be  continued  from  day  to 
day,  and  it  is  earnestly  desired  that  all  classes  of  the  community  be 
fully  represented.  Not  only  all  individuals  interested  in  the  subject, 
butclmrches,  congregations,  and  the  friends  of  the  Sabbalh  in  the  va- 
rious towns,  by  their  delegates,  and  particularly  forwarders,  boatmen, 


all  persons  connect  id  with  rail-roads,  and  busincs?  men  generally, 
a.re  requested  to  be  present.  A  full  Convention  and  one  of  deep  in- 
terest  i''  anticipated,  and  one  that  shall  tell  with  power  in  behalf  of 
the  great  object.  It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  those  to  whom;this  circu- 
lar is  sent,  will  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  subject,  and  exert  then> 
selves  to  ensure  a  full  and  able  del^ation  at  the  Convention. 

RocHESTEB,  N.  Y.y  June  9,  1842, 


Charles  J.  Plill, 
Jacob  Gould, 
Chester  Dewey, 
Hervey  Ely, 
Samuel  Luckey, 
James  Seymour, 
Ashlev  Sampson, 
D.  Scoville. 
Henry  W.  Davis, 
Tryon  Edwards, 
A.  Gardiner, 
Isaac  Hills, 
L.  A.  Ward, 
John  Haywood, 
Frederick  Starr, 
F.  Whittlesey, 
S.  Matliews, 
W.  S.  Philpot, 
J.  K.  Livingston, 

A.  Champion, 
John  T.  Talman, 
Geo.  A.  Avei-v, 
M.  Chapin, 
Sam'l.  D.  Porter, 
P.  P.  Peck, 
Graham  H.  Chapin, 
Vincent  Mathews, 
N.  B.  Northrop, 
Pharcellus  Church, 

B.  Cam.pbell. 
A.  W.  Reding, 
Rufus  Meech, 
H.  A.  Brewster, 
Aaron  Erickson, 
William  Atkinson, 


J.  D.  Flusbands, 
Mitchael  Loder, 
O.  N.  Bush, 
William  Ailing, 
A.  W.  Gillies, 
Sidney  Allen, 
J.  B.  Shaw, 

0.  Hastings, 
L.  Brooks, 
Patrick  Kearney, 
S.""G.  Andrews, 
A-.  G.Hall, 

1.  F.  Mack, 
John  F.  Bush, 
E.  Huntincrton, 
H.  L.  AcFuUes, 
Hervey  L\T)n, 
Cliarles  M.  Lee, 
Ja.ob  Graves, 
David  Hoyt, 
Geo.  W.  Pratt, 
M.  F.  Delano, 
Oren  Sage, 
Edwin  Pancost, 
G.  S.  BoardiBan, 
P.  S.  Stoddard, 
William  Bnewster, 
Alvah  Strong, 

N.  T.  Roche'ster, 
E.  F.  Smhh, 
Jonathan  Child, 
John  Allen, 
J.  M.  Fish, 
W.  Griffith, 
J.  W.  Smhh, 


William^  Pitkin,. 
E.  D.  Smith, 
J.  PL  Brewster, 

D.  R.  Barton, 
W.  H.  Chenev, 
Walter  S.  Griffith, 
Oliver  Culver, 

A.  Sprague, 
N.  B.  Ellison  &  Co., 
William  ^loore, 
'J'homas  Pease, 
•James  Chappell  &;  Co;, 
John  McConnell, 
Shepard  G.  Moatt, 
Abijah  Fiteh,  Audiim. 
Charles  W.  Dundas, 
H.  L.  Stevens, 
William  W:  Brewster; 
Charles  Hubbell, 
Raymond  Leonard, 
J.  A.  Tallmadge, 
H.  Hunter, 

E.  Darv.  in  Smith, 
H.  B.  Williams, 
Wm.  R.  Montgomery, 
Everard  Peck, 
Ebcnezer  Watts, 
Thomas  Kempsliall, 
A.  G.  Smhh, 
Bernard  O'Reilly, 
Patrick  Doyle, 

N.  0-sborn, 

G.  A.  Hollister, 

Samuel  Miller. 


The  Convention — ^some  300  delegates  being  present — w-as  caTled 
to  order  by  Rev.  Pharcelli's  Church,  on  whose  motion  Hon.  N.  W. 
HowFLL,  of  Canandaigua,  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  N.  T.  Roches- 
ter, Esq.,  Secretary,  pro.  tern. 

Mr.  Frederick  Starr  moved,  that  the  delegates  in  attendance  pre- 
sent their  certificates  to  the  Secretary,  and  take  their  seats  as  mem- 
bers  of  the  Conrention.     The  consideratk)n  of  the  motion  was,  bow- 


ever,  by  consent,  postponed,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Chair,  a  committee  to  nominate  officers  for  tl»e  Conven- 
tion : — R^-;v.  Tryon  Edv/ards,  Henry  Dwigut,  Esq.,  Ja's.  Seymour, 
Esq.,  llev.  Pharceli.uk  Church. 

Aftor  a  brief  consultation,  the  committee,  through  the  Rev.  Teyon 
EowASDS,  reported  the  following  names,  as  officers  : 

PRESIDENT. 
Honorable  Jacob  Sutherland,  of  Geneva. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 
Hon.  N.  W.  Howell,  PcEv.  Norris  Bull, 

Aristarchus  Champion,  Esq.,  J.  B.  Skinner,  Esq., 

JIev.  Sa.^cel  Llckey,  D.  D.,  Hon.  G.  Hakd, 

Hon.  E.  Rhodes,  Hoti.  Feed'k.  Whittlesey. 

Hon.  Ashley  Sampson, 

SECRETARIES. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Adams,  D,  D.,  Walter  Hurbel,  Esq., 

N.  T.  Rochester,  Esq.,  Selah  Mathews,  Esq. 

Judge  Sutherland  was  then  unanimously  elected  President,  and 
on  taking  the  chair,  addressed  the  Convention,  as  follows  : 

Gentle?jen  of  the  Convention  : — I  thank  you  for  the  honor  done 
me  by  choosing  me  to  preside  over  your  deliberations.  I  consider 
the  object  which  has  called  us  together,  as  one  of  the  highest  impor- 
tance  ;  and  as  commending  itself  alike  to  the  consideration  and  fa- 
vor of  the  Christian  and  Philanthropist.  We  are  assembled  to  take 
into  consideration  what  can  and  what  ought  to  be  done  to  stay  the 
desecration  of  the  holy  Sabbath,  and  to  extend  its  blessings,  spiritual 
and  temporal,  to  all  classes  of  our  citizens.  May  He,  who  is  Lord 
ef  the  Sabbath,  and  without  whose  blessing  all  human  effort  is  una- 
vailing, bless,  guide,  and  direct  our  deliberations,  and  give  efficacy  to 
our  eff:)rts  to  promote  His  glory  and  the  temporal  and  spirtual  happi- 
ness of  our  fellow-citizens. 

The  other  officers  nominated,  were  then  unanimously  elected. 

Judge  Howell  moved  that  the  session  of  the  Convention  be  open- 
ed by  prayer  ;  the  motion  was  passed. 

At  the  request  of  the  President,  prayer  was  offered  by  Hev.  Jus- 
tin  Edwards,  D.  D.,  of  Andover,  Mass. 

Rev.  Timothy  Stillman  moved  that  a  Business  Committee  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Chair,  to  embody  in  resolutions,  and  report  to  the  Con- 
vention,  business  for  their  discussion. 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
appointed  by  the  President  : — Justin  Edwards,  Henry  Dwight, 
Frederick  Starr,  Harmon  Eangsbury,  Elijah  F.  Smith,  Jonathan 
Child,  Timothy  Stillman,  John  Copeland. 

The  Committee  retired,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw  moved  the  adoption 
of  the  following  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
Convention :— 


1.  The  business  of  each  day  shall  commence  at  8|  o'clock,  and 
be  opened  with  prayer  ;  recess  from  12  to  2,  and  from  5|  to  7^  o'- 
clock, and  adjourn  at  9|  o'clock. 

2.  All  committees  to  be  appointed  by  the  Chair,  unless  othermse 
directed  by  the  Convention. 

3.  All  motions  and  resolutions  to  be  committed  to  writing  ;  read 
in  the  hearinfi;  of  the  Convention,  and  then  without  debate,  to  be 
passed  to  the  Business  Committee. 

4.  Business  to  be  taken  up  in  the  order  presented  by  that  commit- 
tee. 

5.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  speak  at  one-  time  more  than  15 
minutes,  nor  more  than  twice  on  one  question,  vnthout  leave  of  the 
Convention. 

6.  When  all  subjects  presented  by  the  commituee  shall  have  been 
disposed  of,  any  member  may,  on  his  own  respowsibility,  present  for 
consideration,  any  subject  adapted  to  lead  the  commumty  to  remen(3>- 
ber  the  Sabbath  day  and  keep  it  Italy. 

7.  The  President  shall  annourtce  to  the  Convention  the  name  of 
each  speaker,  on  his  taking  the  floor. 

It  was  moved  and  carried,  timt  the  question  be  taken  upon  tlije- 
Rules,  en  masse. 

The  question  was  thus  taken,  and  the  Rules  were  adopted. 

Rev.  Dr.  Luckey  said  he  would  now  second  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Starr,  that  the  gentlemen  present  as  delegates,  now  give  to  the  Sec- 
retaries their  names  and  places  of  residence  for  enrolment.  Some 
conversation  followed,  and  it  was  finally  considered  satisfactory  that 
the  President  request  all  delegates  present  to  hand  their  names  and 
residences  to  the  Secretaries  at  their  convenience. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards,  in  behalf  of  the  Business  Committee,  was 
ready  to  report  in  part.  He  said  they  had  been  sincerely  desirous, 
in  order  that  the  proceedings  might  have  a  salutary  effect,  not  only 
on  local  interests,  but  on  all  the  great  interests  of  the  world,  that 
such  resolutions  should  be  adopted  as  should  meet  the  wishes  and 
opinions  of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  throughout  the  Union  ;  and 
with  reference  to  that  desire,  the  committee  beg  leave  to  report  in 
part,  five  resolutions. 

It  was  then  voted  to  consider  the  resolutions  separately ;  and  the 
first  was  read,  as  follows: 

1.  Resolved,  that  Ave  gratefully  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  God 
in  the  appointment  and  preservation  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  in  all  the 
benefits  which,  through  its  means,  he  has  conferred  on  the  children 
of  men. 

Dr.  Edwards  said  it  was  supposed  not  unlikely,  by  the  committee, 
that  this  resolution  and  the  next  might,without  discussion,  meet  a  cordi- 
al response  from  the  whole  Convention,  and  be  adopted  unanimously. 
The  third,  perhaps,  might  be  to  great  advantage  illustrated  by  facts 
and  reasoning.  For  the  purpose  of  getting  under  way,  he  hoped  two 
or  three  of  the  first  resolutions  might  be  adopted  without  debate  ;  if 
this  were  done,  and  the  others  discussed  afterwards,  he  thought  that 
course  would  be  most  useful. 

Rev,  Mr.  Stillman  suggested  that  a  perfect  roll  should  be  made 


out  before  the  discussion  proceeded  farther.  He  hoped  some  gentle- 
man would  speak  on  these  resolutions,  while  delegates  were  giving  in 
their  names  for  the  completion  of  the  roll.  He  made  no  motion, 
however,  and  other  gentlemen  deeming  the  course  suggested  unne- 
cessary, the  matter  was  dropped. 

Rev.  Dr.  Luckey  said  that  a  number  of  letters  had  been  received 
from  gentlemen  who  had  been  invited  to  attend,  but  who  were  una- 
ble to  do  so.  These,  he  thought,  ought  to  be  read,  and  now  was, 
perhaps,  the  most  convenient  time.  He  moved  that  these  letters  be 
now  read. 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  following  letters  were  read  by 
the  Secretary  : 

Albany,  July  5,  1842. 
Gentlemen : 

On  my  return,  after  a  brief  absence  from  the  city,  I  re- 
ceived your  letter  of  the  20th,  post-marked  the  27th  of  June,  tender- 
ing me  a  very  kind  invitation  to  a  Convention  to  be  held  in  Rochester, 
with  a  view  to  promote  the  observance  of  Sunday.  The  letter  re- 
ferred me  for  particular  information  to  an  advertisement  in  a  news- 
paper, which  I  am  informed  was  received,  but  was  not  preserved, — 
and  I  am,  therefore,  without  information  when  the  Convention  will 
take  place.  I  need  not  assure  you  that  every  day's  observation  and 
experience  confirm  the  opinion,  that  the  ordinances  which  require 
the  observance  of  one  day  in  seven,  and  the  Christian  faith  which 
hallows  it,  are  our  chief  security  for  all  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
for  temporal  blessings  and  spiritual  hopes.  I  shall  be  most  happy  to 
co-operate  in  any  proper  measures  which  the  friends  of  that  sacred 
institution  may  adopt. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD. 
To  Rev.  Tryon  Edwards, 

A .  Champion,  Esq. 

New- York,  June  23,  1842. 
Gentlemen : 

I  duly  received  your  kind  favor  inviting  me  to  a  Conven- 
tion of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath,  on  the  20th  July  next,  at  Roches- 
ter. I  regret  that  previous  engagements  will  not  allow  me  to  be 
present  at  this  interesting  meeting.  I  rejoice  that  such  an  occasion 
is  desired  by  such  a  goodly  array  of  respectable  names  as  the  call 
for  it  in  the  paper  sent,  indicates.  It  is  most  cheering  to  the  friends 
of  this  sacred  day,  in  every  place,  to  perceive  that  you  are  moving 
with  such  strength  to  its  aid.  God  regards  us  politically,  as  we  re- 
gard his  Sabbaths.  He  did  so  with  the  nation  of  Israel,  and  he  will 
to  the  end  of  time  vindicate  the  rights  of  his  holy  institution,  by  the 
frown  of  his  judgments  towards  the  people  who  profane  it.  That 
His  own  Spirit  may  guide,  animate,  and  bless  you,  is  among  the 
earnest  prayers  of 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

THEODORE  FRELINGHUYSEN. 
To  Rev.  T.  Edwards, 
A.  Champion,  Esq, 


8 

New- York,  July  12,  1842. 
Rev.  and  dear  Sir  : 

In  reply  to  your  favor  received  yesterday,  I  am  coastrained  to 
say  that  it  seems  impracticable,  for  many  reasons,  that  I  should  be  pre- 
sent with  you  on  the  20th  inst.,  much  as  I  prize  the  object  and  the 
auspices  of  the  Convention.  May  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath  be  with 
you  and  dii'ect  your  ways,  so  as  to  crown  them  all  with  his  blessing. 

On  the  importance  of  the  due  obs'^rvance  of  the  Lord's  day,  in  our 
country,  I  am  convinced  that  there  is  a  great  want  of  adequate  intel- 
ligence among  the  people.  The  design  of  the  Sabbath — its  origin  in 
Paradise — its  perpetuity  from  the  creation  to  the  final  conflagration — 
its  most  humane  and  beneficent  nature — its  change  in  the  present 
dispensation  ;  not  in  principle,  or  in  proportion,  or  space  of  time ;  but 
only  in  the  day  of  the  week,  so  as  to  commemmorate  the  finish  of 
the  world's  redemption  by  our  risen  Lord — its  indispensable  necessity 
to  the  worship  of  God  in  the  world — its  relation  to  the  gospel  of  the 
Son  of  Man,  loho  is  Lord  also  of  the  Sahhalh  day — its  relation  to 
Christianity,  as  evanishing  from  any  place,  when  the  Sabbath  is  neg- 
lected or  disowned — and  its  relation  to  the  law  of  God,  to  the  Deca- 
logue, to  the  first  table,  as  permanently  graven  on  tables  of  stone  by 
the  finger  of  the  living  God,  where  was  inspiration  of  the  highest 
sort,  divine  alone,  without  the  intervention  of  any  human  amanuen- 
sis, and  without  the  perishable  substrate  of  ordinary  inspiration, 
the  parchment  or  the  papyrus  of  other  records  of  God — on  all  these 
and  other  topics,  allied  especially  to  the  history  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
of  those  countries  and  nations  who  have  renounced,  as  compared  with 
those  who  have  remembered  and  honored  the  day  of  God,  there  is, 
I  know,  in  our  county  at  large,  a  most  lamentable  lack  of  correct 
knowledge  and  proper  instruction:  nay  it  exists  in  all  Christendom  ; 
and  in  any  state,  nation,  city,  or  place,  it  will  be  found  that  the  due 
honor  and  order  given  to  the  Lord's  day,  may  be  assumed  as  the 
criterion  of  the  dignity  and  respectability  every  way,  of  the  com- 
munity. 

There  is  a  philosophy  which  I  judge  to  be  wise  and  excellent  in 
reference  to  the  first  table  of  the  law.  It  is  that  which  represents  its 
whole  four  precepts  as  subserving  the  grand  idea  of  worehip  among 
men.  Thus  the  first  commandment  defines  its  object ;  the  second  its 
means ;  the  third  its  manner  ;  and  the  fourth  its  time.  Hence  it  is 
manifest,  that  he  who  positively,  or  negatively,  lends  his  influence  to 
destroy  the  time  of  worship,  is  as  really  engaged  in  the  destnaction 
or  prevention  of  worship  itself;  since,  if  the  time  is  vitiated,  or  re- 
moved, it  is  vain  that  we  are  informed  of  the  manner,  the  means,  and 
the  OBJECT  of  worship.  Besides,  those  who  affect  to  think  that 
the  FOURTH  is  abrogated,  ought  to  do  three  things  for  us:  1.  They 
ought  to  show  us  jchere  the  same  authority  that  engraved  it  on  the 
first  of  the  tables  of  stone  has  revoked  it.'  2.  They  ought  to  be  abFe 
to  show  us  that  no  other  of  the  ten,  or  if  any  other,  which,  is  like- 
wise annulled,  or  why  only  one  is  thus  erased.  3.  They  ought  to 
reform  the  language  of  Christendom,  and  their  own — speaking  no  more 
of  the  Decalogue  or  ten  commandments,  since  now  there  are  only  nine. 

The  committee,  ad  interim,  of  the  Assembly  of  our  church,  in  their 


late  letter,  say :  *'The  due  observation  of  the  Lord^s  day,  in  our 
whole  country,  is  practically  just  as  desirable  as  that  we  should  be 
a  Christian  people.  Without  worship  in  public,  private  and  personal 
worship  soon  decline  and  become  obsolete,  the  connnunity  deterio- 
rates, morals  retrograde,  and  prosi)ect.s  s!;ather  blackness  or  are  mantled 
with  despair.  But  public  worsliip  reijuires  public  time,  by  general 
agreement,  for  its  celebration;  and  all  observation  and  history  proves 
that  Christianity  proportionably  deserts  a  place  where  the  day  of 
God  is  banished,  dishonored,  or  denied."  These  are  the  sentiments, 
too,  of  the  church  universal. 

The  public  sentiment  of  tiie  country  ought  to  be  roused  on  this  sub- 
ject, to  denounce  Sabbath  breach,  as,  in  refence  to  alcohol  in  any 
fonii  as  a  beverage,  it  is  now  brought  to  frown  portentous  on  those 
who  now  indulge  in  it.  A  Sabbath-breaker  is  just  as  really  opposed 
to  the  true  interests  of  mankind,  and  just  as  much  an  immoral  man,  as 
he  w'ho  practises  profaneness,  or  becomes  intoxicated.  His  sin  is  di- 
rectly against  God,  his  worship,  and  the  liealth  of  souls.  Nor  is  he 
exempt  from  this  awful  crime,  who  neglects  worship  on  that  day, 
who  stays  at  home  from  church,  and  gives  the  force  of  his  influence 
to  the  violation  of  those  high  enactments  of  the  great  God.  1  humbly 
suggest  that  the  Convention  should  prepare  a  popular  paper  on  the 
subject,  suited  to  all  latitudes  and  meridians  ;  and  then  send  it  with 
wings,  and  like  snow-flakes  for  multitude,  throughout  our  whole  coun- 
try, and  call  on  all  our  countrymen  to  wake  and  return  to  ihe  worship 
of  the  true  God.  But  will  you  excuse  my  great  difluseness  ?  God, 
I  trust,  will  be  with  you  and  will  enlighten,  use,  and  bless  your  efforts  to 
the  great  good  of  our  poor  sin-blinded  species.  This  is  my  prayer,  and 
I  remain,  dear  and  reverend  brother. 

Yours'  in  the  ties  of  the  Savior, 

SAMUEL  H.  COX. 

Rev.  Tryon  Edv.'ards. 

Oswego,  July  18,  1842. 
Dear  Sir: 

Your  favor,  requesting  my  attendance  at  a  Convention  to  be  held 
in  your  city  on  the  20th  inst.,  having  for  its  object  a  combined  effort 
among  the  business  men  of  the  community,  to  correct  the  breach  of 
the  Sabbath,  has  been  some  days  in  my  hand.  Finding  I  could  not 
attend  the  meeting,  I  have  endeavored  to  induce  some  of  my  neigh- 
bors who  feel  friendly  to  the  enterprise,  to  represent  our  place,  and  our 
canal  forwarders  and  steam-boat  proprietors  in  particular.  But  I 
fear  none  of  our  active  and  influential  citizens  will  be  able  to  spare 
the  time  required. 

The  subject  of  checking  and  wholly  suspending  canal  operations, 
as  well  as  the  transportation  of  passengers  on  our  lakes,  by  steam, 
on  the  Sabbath,  has  been  frequently  discussed  by  our  business  men, 
and  a  disposition  prevails  among  them  to  favor  the  reform  in  question. 

Indeed  the  proprietors  of  lake  steamers  have  this  year,  for  the  first 
time,  decided  upon  arresting  all  their  steamers  for  the  Sabbath,  and 
none  are  now  running  on  that  day.  And  I  have  no  doubt  that  in  the 
absence  of  better  motives,  their  interest  would  dictate  this  measure. 


10 

As  owners  of  lake  coasters,  Mr.  Crocker  and  myself  have  said  to 
our  Masters  navigating  the  Welland  canal,  that  they  are  at  liberty, 
whenever  they  find  themselves  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  a  place  of  pub- 
lic worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  desire  to  attend  worship  with  their 
crews,  to  do  so  ;  and  we  are  quite  willing  to  adopt  the  same  prac- 
tice on  our  state  canal. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ALVIN  BRONSON. 
A.  Champion,  Esq. 


Saratoga  Spkin(5s,  July  12,  1842. 

Gentlemen : 

Yours  of  the  20th  ultimo,  I  found  on  my  return  from  New 
York,  on  the  4th  instant ;  but  having  been  engaged  the  whole  of  last 
week  in  court,  I  have  not  before  had  leisure  to  answer  it.  I  assure  you, 
it  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to  attend  your  Convention  next 
week,  to  participate  with  my  Christian  brethren  of  "Western  New 
York,  in  devising  the  means  of  arresting  the  further  desecration  of 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  and  endeavoring  to  persuade  all  classes  that 
their  temporal,  as  well  as  their  eternal  interest,  requires  them  to  fore- 
o-o  all  worldly  employments  on  that  sacred  day,  when  the  blessed 
Savior  rested  from  his  great  work  of  redemption,  as  the  eternal  Fa- 
ther had  before  rested  from  the  labors  of  creation.  I  find,  however, 
that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  with  you,  on  that  occasion,  with- 
out neglecting  official  duties  ;  for  my  court  commences  at  this  place 
on  the  19th  instant,  and  will  probably  be  continued  nearly  the  whole 
week.  The  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  as  a  day  of  mental  and  bod- 
ily rest  from  the  cares  and  business  of  the  world,  independent  of  its 
divine  institution,  and  apostolic  substitution,  is,  in  itself,  of  incalcu- 
lable value,  to  the  temporal,  as  well  as  to  the  eternal  interests  of  the 
human  family.  And  it  therefore  becomes  the  philanthropist,  as  well 
as  the  Christian,  to  endeavor  to  secure  the  blessings  of  that  day  of 
rest,  to  every  member  of  the  community.  How  this  can  be  best  ac- 
complished, is  a  question  which  requires  great  deliberation,  before  it 
can  be  satisfactorily  answered.  But,  as  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that 
the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the  cessation  from  worldly  pur- 
suits on  one  day  in  seven,  is  not  only  in  accordance  with  the  Divine 
will,  but  is  actually  promotive  of  worldly  prospeity  and  happiness, 
considered  merely  as  a  human  institution,  it  appears  to  me  that  we 
ought  to  endeavor  to  impress  both  of  these  truths  upon  the  minds  of 
all.  This  cannot  be  effected  either  by  denunciation  or  coercion. 
But  in  this,  as  in  all  other  attempts  to  do  good  to  our  fellow  men,  we 
must  follow  the  example  of  our  Divine  Master ;  whose  uniform  mode 
of  reaching  the  human  heart,  when  his  object  was  to  convince  and  to 
save,  was  by  the  simple  use  of  the  language  of  kindness  and  per- 
suasion. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect, 

Yours,  &c., 

R.  H.  WALWORTH. 
Messrs.  T.  Edwards, 

A.  Champion,  Committee,  &c. 


11 

Albany,  July  8,  1842" 
Dear  Sir : 

Your  favor  of  tlie  5th  is  before  me,  and,  although  jrreatly 
pressed  for  time,  I  must  not  delay  reply.  1  was  informed  of  your 
"  Sabbath  Convention"  by  the  address  in  the  Daily  Democrat,  signed 
by  many  of  your  citizens,  and  which  some  friend  was  so  kind  as  to 
send  me.  I  like  the  movement,  and  think  it  will  result  in  much  good. 
Sabbath  desecration  has  become  the  crying  sin  of  the  land,  and,  we 
have  reason  to  apprehend,  may  call  down  upon  the  country  the  just 
judgments  of  God.  Something  should  be  done  to  suppress  this  great 
evil,  and  I  most  earnestly  hope  that  there  will  be  such  an  amount  of 
influence  and  talent  in  the  convention  as  to  make  its  voice  heard  and 
respected  throughout  the  State. 

I  regret  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  on  an  occasion  of  so  much  in- 
terest.  It  would  necessarily  involve  an  absence  from  my  charge  on 
the  Lord's  day,  and  this,  under  present  circumstances,  must  not  be. 
With  my  best  wishes  for  its  complete  success, 

I  am,  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

Yours,  &;c., 

B.  T.  WELCH. 
Rev.  P.  Church. 

Ogdensburgh,  St.  Lawrence  Co.  > 
July  16,  1842.  ] 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  duly  received  your  favor  of  the  .5th  inst.,  and  intended  to  be 
present  at  the  Convention  on  the  20th,  but  I  now  find  that  I  shall  be 
prevented. 

Allow  me  to  suggest  that,  in  my  judgment,  the  most  powerful  mo- 
tive  to  be  presented  to  the  business  community,  in  favor  of  the  obser- 
vance of  the  Sabbath,  is  the  promise  of  temporal  blessings,  so  fre- 
quently made  in  the  Bible,  and  so  conspicuously  fulfilled  in  the  his- 
tory of  individuals  and  of  nations.  On  the  contrary,  how  few — how 
very  few  men  prosper  in  business,  who  habitually  violate  the  Sab- 
bath ! 

Is  not  this  commandment,  like  the  one  which  follows,  of  obedience 
to  parents,  enjoined  by  temporal  sanctions — rewards  and  punishments 
in  the  present  world  ;  and  have  these  not  been  executed  in  every  age  ? 
When  these  truths  are  believed  by  men  of  business,  the  Sabbath  will 
be  observed  from  a  sense  of  present  personal  interest. 

Enforce  these  considerations  on  the  Convention,  and  they  must  do 
good. 

With  sentiments  of  esteem, 

Your  obedient  servent, 

JOHN  FINE. 
Rev.  Dr.  Luckey. 

Geneseo,  July  12,  1842. 
My  Dear  Sir : 

On  my  return  from  Buffalo,  I  found  your  letter  of  the  6lh, 
and  my  absence  must  be  my  apology  for  not  returning  an  earlier  an- 


12 

swer.  I  had  noticed,  with  pleasure,  the  call  for  the  Convention  to 
which  you  allude,  to  be  held  in  your  city  on  the  20th  inst.,  for  the 
purpose  of  promoting  the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  so  imme- 
diately connected  with  our  best  interests  ;  and,  although  with  grati- 
tude we  may  acknowledge  sonne  tokens  of  divine  favor  have  followed 
the  efforts  already  made,  still  the  continued  desecration  of  the  day  sa 
often  witnessed,  cannot  but  be  viewed  with  pain  and  regret,  by  every 
friend  of  man,  and  calls  loudly  for  increased  effort.  If  my  engage- 
ments would  admit,  it  v/ould  afford  me  pleasure  to  be  present,  and  par- 
tieipate  in  your  deliberations  ;  but  such  is  my  situation  at  present, 
a&io  render  it  impossible.  I  beg  you  to  tender  to  the  committee  my 
sincere  regard,  and  accept  for  yourself  the  assurance  of  my  respect 
and  affectionate  remembrance. 

Truly  your-friend, . 

ALLEN  AYRAULT. 
Rev.  Dr.  Lucked.. 


After  the  reading,  of  these  and  other  letters — among  them,  some 
from  Rev.  Drs.  Nott  and  Wayland,  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk,  and  otliers,  the 
regular  business  was  resumed,  and  the  first  resolution  was  called 
up  for  consideration.  No  one  wishing  to  speak  upon  it,  the  question 
was  taken,  and  the  resolution  was  wiaimnously  adopted. 

The  second  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  suited  to  pro- 
mote the  highest  present  and  future  good  of  men,  in  all  ages,  and  in 
all  countries  ;  and  that  the-  object  of  God  in  establishing  it,  and  the 
reasons  why  it  should  be  observed,  should  be  made  known  to  all 
people. 

The  question  was  taken  upon  this  without  debate,  and  the  resolu- 
tion \\'^as  unanimously  adoped. 

The  third  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

3.  'Resolved,  That  as  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man,  and  the  ob- 
servance of  it  accordiiigto  the  Divine  will,  is  essential  to  his  social 
and  civil  interests,  it  is  the  duty  of  every  enlightened  friend  of  hu- 
manity, conscientiously,  and  habitually  to  observe  it. 

Rev.  Mr.  Beecher,  of  Batavia,  said  that  he  had  been  called  on  to 
©Sei'  a  few  remarks  on  this  resolution  ;  and,  said  he,  I  shall  confine 
thera  to  a  single  point.  The  resolution  embraces  so  extended  a  field, 
that  it  will  be  found  impossible,  within  the  space  allowed,  to  ^o  over 
the  whole  ground.  It  speaks  of  the  civil  interests  of  the  nation,  as 
connected  with  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  Day.  I  shall  not  go 
over  the  whole  world  to  show  that  civil  liberty  and  happiness  are 
closely  connected  with  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath :  I  shall  speak 
only  of  our  own  nation  ;  and  if  this  can  be  shown  with  regard  to  that, 
its  truth  surely  can  be  inferred  with  regard  to  every  other  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  earth.  Now,  Sir,  in  order  that  our  national  progress 
toward  happiness  and  liberty,  may  be  speedy  and  sure,  we  need 
something  more  than  mere  numbers — in  other  words,  I  say  that  the 
number  of  inhabitants,  the  population  of  our  country,  cannot  preserve 
its  government.  This  seems,  thus  stated,  a  self-evident  proposition  ; 
and  yet,  it  would  seem  from  the  notes  of  triumph,  of  loud  boasting, 


13 

that  attend  the  raplJ  increase  of  onr  population,  that  this  was  made 
tlie  chief  reliance.  Sir,  I  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  fearful  and 
threatenin<T  indications  that  darken  the  horizon  of  our  country.  The 
philanthropic  and  clear  sighted  see  a  no  more  lowering  cloud  over 
our  national  prosperity,  than  this  very  rapid  increase  of  our  popula- 
tion. The  great  difficulty  here  is,  that  our  population  outstrips  the 
advance  of  schools  and  moral  culture.  The  number  of  the  ignorant 
is  rapidly  augmenting.  At  the  extreme  Wesf,  in  the  great  valley, 
the  number  of  those  who  can  neither  read  noi-  write,  is  increasing 
with  fearful  rapidity. '  Of  course  we  have  a  v.^st  population,  who 
■ctre  under  no  moral  restraint ;  and,  of  consequence  again,  giving  to 
them  all  civil  and  political  privileges — they  are  driven  hither  and 
tliither  by  every  wind  of  political  and  social  doctrine.  The  two  great 
pillars  of  self-government  are  intelligence  and  virtue:  let  either  be 
talien  away,  arid  ttie  government  must  fall. 

Nor  can  wealth  and  refinement  give  perpetuity  to  any  government, 
tvreece  and  Rome  were  wealthy  and  refined,  rich  in  pictures  and 
sculpture,  and  in  all  the  luxuries  and  arts  of  civilized  life.  France 
is  wealthy,  the  Itulians  are  refined,  and  both  enjoy  all  the  refinements 
of  cultivated  life  5-  and  yet,  their  liberty,  their  civil  and  national  hap- 
piness, are  yet  to  be.  You  may"'j(7/  the  country  with  wealth,  and 
yoQ  thereby  only  increase  its  selfishness.  You  may  increase  refine- 
ment to  any  extent  you  please,  and  it  will  only  degenerate  into  self- 
ish vanity  and  iiiiaous  indulgence.  In  exact  proportion  as  you  make 
the  nation  wealthy  and  refined,  you  enervate  her  power.  Here,  the 
people  elect  their  rulers.  If,  then,  you  make  the  people  rich,  luxu- 
rious, and  weak,  of  course  they  will  choose  weak  and  wicked  rulers. 
The  judges  and  all  ottlciai  dignitaries  in  any  nation,  Avill  be  as  the 
people  of  that  nation  who  elect  them.  Ask  anytnan,  if  a  people  be- 
come luxurious,  indolent,  wealthy,  refined ;  a  people  seeking  their 
ease,  shunning  all  high  and  iiard  exertion — what  sort  of  a  S/a/e  will 
that  people  become  ?  'Made  up  of  men  of  the  same  character  as  those 
■Avho  choose  them. 

But  let  me  say  again,  that  armies  and  fleets  -cannot  give  per- 
petuity to  a  governtnont.  Armies  and  fleets  may,  for  a  time,  pre- 
serve an  absolute  monarchy  ;  and  in  such  a  case,  the  mass  of'the 
•people  are  slaves.  But  the  glory  of  our  government  is,  that  the  peo- 
•]'le  are /ree.  The  truth  that  Freedom  is  essential  to  her  glory,  is  the 
pivot  on  which  tlic  whole  structure  turns.  Now,  ifthe  people  are  lh« 
government — are  the  monarchs  in  this  land,  and  if  they  are  ignorant 
and  wicked,  then  of  courst -we  shall  have  an  ignorant  and  unprincs- 
y\c6  government.  Now,  what  can  armies  and  fleets  do  ?  Will  they 
'not  be  in  the  hands  of  that  populace — of  that  unprincipled  rabble? 
And  where  there  are  no  restraints  upon  their  fury,  are  we  not  at  the 
mercy  of  an  untamed  mob  ?  We  have  had  some  inklings  of  the  re- 
sult, williin  the  last  ten  years,  in  the  various  mobs  which  have  char- 
acterized our  history. 

Upon  these  points  I  might  easily  enlarge  ;  but  I  will  go  on  to  say 
again,  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  nature  and  form  of  our  govcinment, 
tliat  can  secure  perpetuity.  What  is  the  form  and  genius  of  our 
government  ?     It  is  republican  :  power  originating  in  the  people — 


14 

the  people  acting  by  agents.  Now  the  agent  will  be  intelligent  and 
virtuous  if  the  people  are  so,  and  otherwise  if  the  people  are.  If  the 
people  are  ignorant,  they  will  have  ignorant  rulers,  and  the  whole 
fabric  of  laws,  institutions,  and  government,  will  fall.  But  where 
we  have  this  mighty  mass  of  mind  left  ignorant  and  untaught,  all  re- 
spect for  law  will  die  ;  all  confidence  in  the  stability  of  government, 
will  be  lost ;  and  the  only  alternative  will  be  between  the  lawless 
anarchy  of  a  mob,  and  absolute  tyranny.  The  first  step  from  anar- 
chy, is  to  monarchy ;  and  this  is  the  couree  in  which  our  country  is 
more  rapidly  tending — this  is  the  goal  which  she  will  finally  reach, 
unless  we  turn  back  the  tide,  and  stem  the  torrent  of  vice  which  is 
sweeping  away  our  institutions  and  laws. 

But  not  only  is  it  found  that  intelligence  and  virtue  will  sustain 
the  laws,  but  it  is  also  proved  that  national  institutions  never  will  be 
sustained  by  a  merely  mlelligeni  population.  Here  is  a  point.  Sir,  to 
which  the  attention  of  every  patriot  and  Christian  should  be  called, 
and  on  wliich  it  should  be  fi?:ed.  I  say,  something  more  is  wanted 
than  intelligence.  You  may  establish  multitudes  of  colleges,  scatter 
your  academies  and  schools  ail  over  the  land,  let  every  man,  woman, 
and  child  be  taught  to  read  and  write;  and  you  have  thus  no  cer- 
tainty whatever,  for  the  safety  and  perpetuity  of  the  nation,  strange 
as  it  may  seem  to  the  ears  of  some.  What  are  you  doing  when  you 
educate  the  people  ?  You  are  educating  a  mighty  giant,  with  no  se- 
curity for  what  use  he  shall  make  of  his  power.  It  is  like  sending 
a  steam-engine  into  the  midst  of  a  multitude,  with  no  rvins  to  guide 
it.  Mind  is  steam.  If  rightly  managed,  it  brings  about  most  excel- 
lent results  :  if  not,  it  is  productive  of  most  direful  consequences. 
Were  not  Greece  and  Rome  educated  ?  Is  there  not  intelligence  in 
Germany  and  in  France  ?  Now,  Sir,  every  one  knows  that  intelli- 
gence may  urge  a  man  to  do  evil  as  well  as  good.  Look  at  the  thou- 
sand examples  of  great  men  who  have  bathed  the  world  in  blood  I 
Were  they  not  intelligent  ?  Is  nat  the  devil,  himself,  highly  intelli- 
gent ?  Why,  Sir,  well  he  may  be :  he  has  been  to  school  for  more 
tlian  six  thousand  years,  and  knows  more,  perhaps,  than  all  the  men 
in  the  United  States  !  An  intelligent  mind.  Sir,  is  an  engine  mighty 
to  do  evil  as  well  as  good.  Now,  if  you  educate  a  people  and  store 
them  with  knowledge — if  you  give  them  no  religion,  no  morality,  no 
virtue — you  have  a  mighty  mass  of  selfish  minds  using  their  energies 
^pon  each  other;  arrd  the  question  will  be,  who  shall  get  the  control. 
To  this  degree  you  will  find  that  the  principles  of  human  action  are 
selfish;  and  the  sole  desire  is  to  be  king  over  their  fellows. 

In  the  last  place.  Sir,  Patriotism  (as  the  populace  understand  that 
word)  can  never  do  it.  The  history  of  our  fathers  may  be  recounted 
to  us,  and  their  characters  and  example  held  up  to  our  view,  as  pat- 
terns of  all  that  is  excellent  and  noble.  We  may  be  taught  to  love 
and  adore  them — to  shout  their  praises  as  reformers  of  the  world,  as 
opposers  of  oppression  ;  and  yet,  all  this  will  have  no  effect,  will  be 
of  no  avail  in  rooting  out  the  mighty  selfishness  of  the  human  heart. 
You  may  array  all  the  power  of  patriotism,  and  sway  the  mass  of 
minds  like  the  mighty  ocean ;  and  yet,  in  what  shall  it  control  the 
selfishness  of  the  human  heart  ? 


15 

But  I  hasten  to  say  that  wo  must  have  something  more  tlian  all 
these  :  we  must  have  a  control  of  seliisliness.  In  order  to  secure  the 
perpetuity  of  our  civil  institutions,  we  must  have  something  which 
shall  contn)l  the  selfishness  of  the  human  heart.  Every  man  knows 
how  all-powerful  is  the  selfish  principle — how  it  reigns  and  is  su- 
preme  in  every  department  of  life.  In  all  political  as  well  as  social 
action,  it  is  almost  the  governing  power.  Now  this  must  all  be  rem- 
edied.  We  must  have  something  to  produce  a  public  conscience. 
Who  does  not  know  that  it  has  almost  passed  into  a  proverb,  that  po- 
litical men  have  no  consciences !  Now  I  do  not  say  that  this  is  ab- 
solutely true  ;  but  you  know  that  every  body  says  so,  and  what  every 
body  says,  must  be  true.  Now,  in  political  matters,  it  is  too  nearly 
true  :  the  men  who  arc  foremost  in  politics,  have  almost  no  conscience 
at  all.  Now  what  hope  is  there  that  we  can  preserve  our  civil  in- 
stitutions, when  conscience  has  no  control  ?  Suppose  our  law-givers 
had  no  regard  for  morality  at  all  :  what  would  become  of  the  happi- 
ness of  men  ?  When  the  happiness  of  the  State  or  of  individuals 
clashes  with  the  selfish  interests  of  man  or  of  a  set  of  men,  and  there 
is  no  conscience  to  control  men,  what  is  to  become  of  the  ditTerent 
interests  of  this  great  country  ?  It  is  self-evident  that  we  must  pro- 
duce a  bafencing  power  to  tiiis  selfisliness  of  the  human  heart.  But 
we  must  also  establish  a  stern  self-control.  It  has  been  often  said, 
and  with  great  truth,  that  to  govern  others,  you  must  learnto  govern 
yourself;  and  many  of  us  may  see  the  truth  of  this  illustrated  in  our 
own  households.  It  is  a  great  and  a  true  principle,  that  first  you 
must  hiow  youi'self  and  learn  to  govern  yourself,  and  then  you  can 
govern  others.  Let  the  great  mass  of  the  people  learn  the  truth  that 
^r//'-government  is  the  foundation  of  «//  government.  The  great  men 
of  every  time,  have  been  men  of  self-control.  The  men,  our  fathers, 
who  first  landed  on  Plymouth-rock,  were  men  of  nerve,  of  stern  self- 
command,  and  of  most  noble  self-control  ;  and  so  far  as  our  civil 
liberty  has  been  established,  so  far  as  its  perpetuity  is  settled,  it  has 
been  done  by  men  of  strong  self  command.  This,  too,  might  be 
shown  by  philosophy,  as  well  as  by  fact.  Now  let  this  people  be 
without  self -con\.ro\,  and  no  one  else  can  control  them.    It  is  impossibleo 

In  the  fourth  place,  we  must  do  something  to  produce  love  towards 
the  mass  of  the  people.  This  principle  is  well  understood,  by  every 
body.  The  political  demagogue  understands  it.  He  appeals  con-> 
stantly  to  the  people,  and,  at  least,  professes  to  love  them.  He  un- 
derstands, perfectly,  that  he  must  profess  to  love  the  people,  if  he 
would  control  them.  If  he  would  really,  and  truly,  have  power 
over  the  people,  he  must  base  his  efforts  on  the  religious  principle  of 
love  to  his  neighbor.  When  he  really  loves  the  mass,  his  heart  will 
beat  for  the  happiness, — the  best  happiness  of  the  whole  people.  And 
this  must  be  the  ground  of  all  good  to  the  whole  :  every  man  must 
sacrifice  his  private  interest,  if  it  clashes  with  the  interest  of  the 
whole.  If  he  will  not  do  this,  his  selfishness  forces  him  to  sacrifice 
the  interest  of  all.  Thus  States  and  nations  are  often  sacrificed  to 
the  selfish  interest  of  one  man,  or  set  of  men.  Inspire  the  mass  of 
mind  with  the  principles  of  true  and  genuine  happiness,  with  a  feel- 
ing of  love  for  all,  and  we  shall  then  have  a  perfect  republican  struc- 


16 

ture.  But  there  must,  in  order  to  accomplish  this,  be  something 
which  shall  bring  them  to  sacrifice  their  selfish  interests,  for  another 
world  :  there  must  be  obedience  to  tJie  eternal  law  of  Jehovah. — 
Without  this,  the  mass  of  mind  cannot  be  controlled.  It  will  be  as 
unchained  and  unfettered  as  the  wind.  It  has  been  tried,  over  and 
over  again.  There  must  be  a  sacrifice  for  a  higher  good  than  the 
dreams  of  earth.  There  must  be  a  feeling,  that  there  is  to  be  a  high- 
er tribunal  than  any  upon  this  earth — that,  at  the  judgment  bar  of 
God,  every  man's  actions  shall  be  judged.  The  eternal  sanctions  of 
Jehovah  must  be  enforced,  and  universally  recognized. 

Now,  to  accomplish  all  this  great  woric,  the  Sabbath  is  the  great 
instrument.  Its  observance  makes  an  intelligent  population ;  because 
this  fifty-two  days  in  every  year  are  spent  in  teaching  the  people. — 
No  people  can  observe  it — they  cannot  regularly  attend  the  church 
of  God — their  children  cannot  go  to  its  Sabbath-Schools,  and  the  pop- 
ulation not  become  enlightened.  The  laws  of  tinrth  and  of  God  will 
become  instilled  into  their  minds.  The  Sabbath,  moreover,  produces 
a  conscientious  people.  Facts  abundantly  sustain  this  :  tliat  the 
people  become  conscientious — become  more  or  less  capable  of  self- 
oontrol — ^^just  in  proportion  as  they  habitually  observe  the  ordinances 
and  regulations  of  the  Christian  Sabbath.  They  cease  work  ;  cleanse 
arid  dress  themselves  ;  go  to  the  house  of  God,  and  sit  still,  in  atten- 
tive listening  to  his  holy  word,  one  day  in  seven  :  and  they  must  be- 
come, in  this  way,  capable  of  self  control.  If  a  child  be  made  to 
do  this  until  he  is  six  years  old,  he  will  inevitably  gain  self  con- 
trol. 'Try  it  once!  Just  consider,  if  you  thus  teach  your  child  to 
attend  the  services  of  the  sanctuary — to  sit  still  and  be  devout — ii 
you  do  not  thus  teach  him  some  ctegree  of  self-control.  The  whole 
genius  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  is  to  teach  this  lesson.  Its  very  first 
precept,  which  commands  that  no  work  shall  be  done  on  the  Sabbath, 
expressly  leads  to  self-control.  The  teachings  of  the  sacred  desk, 
enforce,  also,  the  great  lesson,  that  "  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself."  All  its  tendencies  are  to  produce  love  of  the  people — of 
the  whole  mass,  as  though  they  were  but  one.  The  Sabbath  brings 
together  all  classes  of  the  people  :  all  distinctions  are  thus  broken 
down  ;  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  learned  and  the  unlearned,  are  all 
brought  into  the  presence,  and  under  the  control,  of  the  same  infinite 
God.  They  sit,  and  they  sing  together  ;  they  hear  the  same  preach- 
er ;  listen  to  the  same  truths — the  same  principles  of  momentous 
interest  and  importance — the  great  principles  of  love  for  their  neigh- 
bor. Thus  is  produced  a  feeling  of  social  interest — of  mutual  love. 
Thus,  too,  does  the  Sabbath  prepare  the  way  for  the  teachings  of  re- 
ligion— for  enforcing  the  sanctions  of  the  eternal  world — for  bring- 
ing each  individual  under  the  law  of  self  control,  and  giving  to  each 
the  law  of  God,  and  of  Jesus  Christ.  Blot  out  the  Sabbath,  and  all 
this  must  be  blotted  out  with  it  ;  all  the  conditions  and  motives  of 
love  must  be  lost ;  the  people  will  be  set  afloat  upon  the  great  sea  of 
passion,  with  no  chart — no  compass,  but  their  own  unbridled  desires, 
to  guide  and  direct  them. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisnrr,  of  Ithaca,  said  that  he  wished  to  mention  one  or 
two  facts,  connected  with  this  subject,  which  his  brother  Beecher  had 


ir 

not  had  time  to  mention.  The  facts  would  go  to  show  that  the  ob- 
servance of  the  Sabbatii  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  civil  prosperity  of 
any  nation.  The  first  fact  he  would  cite,  was,  that  when  God  sent 
the  Jews  into  captivity  in  Babylon,  all  the  other  circumstances  of  their 
sins  were  merged  in  this — that  they  did  not  keep  his  Sabbaths ;  and 
that  his  land  might  enjoy  the  rest  of  that  holy  day,  he  banished  from 
it  the  nation  that  polluted  and  dishonored  it. 

The  next  fact  he  wished  to  cite,  was,  the  revolution  in  France. 
That  nation,  socially  and  politically,  repudiated  the  Sabbath — re- 
jected  it :  and  what  did  God  do  to  that  nation  ?  The  crimson  his- 
tory of  that  ill-fated  people,  showing  them  wading  through  seas  of 
blood  to  despotism — an  absolute  military  despotism — answers  the 
<]uestion. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  third  fact.  In  1829 — and  I  want  to  call  the 
attention  of  this  convention  to  the  Condition  of  this  country  at  that 
time — it  is  well  known.  Sir,  that  our  land  was  more  prosperous  than 
it  had  been  at  any  previous  time  ;  all  the  interests  of  the  country 
were  flourishing.  Now,  Sir.  in  1829,  Western  New-York,  to  which 
I  am  proud  to  belong,  made  a  mighty  effort  to  stop  the  desecration  of 
the  Sabbath  in  the  United  States,  by  the  running  of  the  mails.  1  say 
Western  New  York  did  this — for  she  was  far  in  advance  of  every 
other  section  of  the  land,  in  this  good  work.  Now  what  reception 
did  the  petitions,  which  were  poured  in,  one  after  the  other,  meet,  in 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  ?  We  were  told  by  that  body,  that, 
as  a  nation,  we  locrc  not  hound  to  regard  the  Sahbath  !  And  now  what 
has  been  the  history  of  the  nation  from  that  day  to  this  ?  It  has  been 
downward — doiimicard — downward — until  now,  the  whole  nation  is 
bankrupt ;  and  almost  every  man  is  trembling  between  the  hope  of 
escape,  and  the  fear  of  absolute  insolvency.  Now,  Sr,  should  we 
disregard  these  facts  ?  God  sent  the  Israelites  into  captivity  because 
they  desecrated  his  Sabbaths.  God  said  in  his  providence  to  France, 
"  I  pour  out  blood  unto  you,  because  you  have  desecrated  and  reject- 
ed my  Sabbath  ;"  and  God  has  been  saying  the  same  thing  to  the 
United  States,  from  the  time  that  the  Senate  refused  to  receive  the 
petitions  of  her  citizens  to  observe  the  Sabbath  ;  for  the  general  course 
of  the  nation  has  been  downward  to  this  day. 

Now  I  will  mention  one  more  fact,  in  the  history  of  the  days  that 
have  gone  by — cheering  and  consoling  as  it  is.  I  said  that  West- 
ern New- York  strove  hard,  in  1829,  to  preserve  the  Sabbath  from 
desecration.  I  might  have  said,  also,  that  she  was  then  loudly  anathe- 
matized, by  the  cry  that  she  wished  to  bring  about  a  union  of  Church 
and  State,  Now  I  am  going  to  say,  that,  from  that  period,  when  her 
petitions  were  presented  and  rejected  by  the  Senate,  God  Almighty 
has  been  pouring  out  his  Spirit  upon  Western  New-York,  as  he  had 
never  done  before  ;  and  such  a  blessing  has  been  received,  in  all  this 
region,  as  never  before  was  witnessed.  And  now  look  at  the  prosper- 
ity of  blessed  Western  New- York !  From  that  period  to  this,  as  a 
part  of  a  Sabbath  desecrating  nation,  she  has  felt  the  scourge  of  God  ; 
but  she  was  the  last  to  feel  it.  The  vial  of  God's  wrath  was  poured 
upon  her  last. 

It  is  important  that  the  Convention  should  look  at  these  facts  3  aocl 
2 


18 

therefore  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  mention  them.  I  want  the  facts 
to  be  understood.  I  want  the  providences  of  God  to  be  regarded^ 
and  the  great  truth  disthictly  recognized,  that  he  will  always  punisU 
the  unrighteous,  and  preserve  his  people. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards,  of  Andover,  said  he  wished  to  call  attention 
to  the  reas(  ns  of  the  fact  alluded  to  by  his  brother,  (Mr.  Wisner,) 
in  regard  to  France.  When  the  wise  men  of  that  country — the  phi- 
losophers— had  considered  the  matter,  they  came  to  the  conclusion, 
that  it  would  be  impossible,  even  to  convince  the  people  that  there 
was  no  God,  so  long  as  they  were  allowed  to  have  the  Sabbath  day  ; 
and,  especially,  if  they  had  the  doors  of  their  churches  open,  and 
were  permitted  to  go  to  meeting  on  the  Sabbath.  So  long  as  all  this 
was  allowed,  they  said  it  would  be  impossible  to  root  out  the  preju- 
dice that  there  was  a  God.  And  so  it  was,  Sir.  The  fact  was  so  ; 
and  hence  that  puny  hand  of  a  single  nation,  attempted  to  blot  out 
the  Sabbath.  Why,  sir,  they  might  as  well  have  undertaken  to  blot 
out  the  sun  from  heaven.  They  could  cover  over  their  own  eyes, 
and  plunge  themselves  into  darkness,  and  thus,  like  a  child,  declares 
that  there  wtis  no  sun  ;  but  they  could  not  blot  out  that  glorious  light, 
neither  they,  nor  the  united  might  of  all  the  nations  on  the  face  of 
the  earth. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisner,  of  Lockport,  next  addressed  the  President,  as  fol- 
lows :  Sir,  I  have  been  requested  to  make  a  few  remarks  upon  the  social 
bearings  of  the  Sabbath  :  and  I  was  about  rising  to  do  so,  when  my  re- 
vered father  and  the  reverend  Doctor  who  have  preceded  me,  occu- 
pied the  floor.  And  I  should  be  embarrassed  in  the  position  1  occu- 
py, did  I  not  call  to  mind  a  passage  I  read  in  my  school-boy  days,  in 
Cicero  de  Oratore.  That  great  man  advises  a  speaker  to  place  his 
weakest  argument  between  a  few  strong  ones  ;  and.  Sir,  you  and  the 
house,  cire  all  aware,  that  strong  arguments  have  preceded  me,  and 
I  trust  will  follow  what  I  have  to  say  ;  and  I  hope  that  the  weakness 
of  my  argument  may  be  sustained,  according  to  the  advice  of  that 
great  orator.  On  this  subject,  permit  me  to  say,  that  the  discussion 
of  the  resolution  seems  to  have  come  up  in  reverse  order.  The  reso- 
lution reads,  that,  "  as  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man,  and  the  ob- 
servance of  it  according  to  the  Divine  will,  is  essential  to  his  social 
and  civil  interests,  it  is  the  duty  of  every  enlightened  friend  of  hu- 
manity, conscientiously  and  habitually  to  observe  it."  Now,  Sir,  in 
the  first  place,  the  civil  bearings  of  the  Sabbath  have  been  discus- 
sed, and  it  becomes  my  duty  to  say  a  few  words  with  regard  to  the 
social.  A  pebble  dropped  upon  the  surface  of  a  quiet  lake,  you 
know,  will  produce  various  circles ;  the  larger  embracing  and  sur- 
rounding the  smaller.  So  it  is  with  this  subject.  The  outer  circles, 
the  civil  relations  of  this  subject,  have  been  ably  discussed  ;  and  it 
becomes  my  duty  to  take  up  a  k\v  of  the  minor  circles,  embodied  in 
the  socm?  division  of  the  resolution.  And  I  now  venture  to  assert,  that, 
without  the  Sabbath — without  sustaining  the  sacred  institutions  of  that 
day — there  could  be  no  such  thing  as  social  order  or  happiness  among 
communities  or  nations  ;  and,  in  order  to  sustain  this,  I  want  to  say,  in 
the  first  place,  that,  in  order  to  social  happiness,  there  must  be  such  a 
thing  as  cleanliness.  Let  me  ask,  if,  without  cleanliness,  there  can 
be  any  such  thing  as  elevated  social  enjoyment ;  and  were  it  not  for 


19 

our  Sabbath,  recurring  as  it  does,  let  me  ask,  if  there  would  be  anv 
more  time  to  attend  to  this  so  important  duty,  as  it  should  be  done. 
Look  at  that  laborinf:r  man,  as,  on  Saturday  he  goes  to  his  businrss. 
See  his  long  beard — sec  his  soiled  linen,  his  worn  and  unwashed 
clothes,  and  his  general  appearance,  so  hostile  to  all  social  intercourse 
and  enjoyment.  Preparatory  to  the  Sabbath,  there  is  a  general 
cleansing,  from  the  day  laborer  to  the  President  in  his  White  House 
— from  the  peasant  in  the  field,  to  the  highest  dignitary  in  the  nation. 
And  I  view  the  Sabbath,  as,  in  this  respect,  of  great  importance  with 
regard  to  the  social  interests  of  all  men. 

But,  again :  the  Sabbath  is  of  great  importance,  in  regard  to  our 
social  interests,  as  it  renders  men  intelligent  and  moral.  I  speak 
now  of  the  intelligence  and  morality  which  are  founded  on  the  inde- 
structible principles  of  the  Bible.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  keeping 
individuals  in  a  course  of  rectitude,  by  the  force  of  restraint — by 
laws  and  brute  force,  of  various  kinds.  But  all  high  social  enjoy- 
ment must  be  founded  upon  a  principle  within  ;  and  where  shall  we 
look  for  the  rules  laid  down  by  that  principle,  unless  in  the  Bible, 
and  the  institutions  of  the  Sabbath  ?  Hence  it  is  that  Sabbath- 
Schools  are  doing  so  much  for  education  and  morality.  They  take 
young  minds  when  they  are  soft  like  wax,  and  capable  of  taking  any 
impression  that  you  please  to  place  upon  them  ;  then  the  principles 
that  are  inculcated  will 

"  Grow  with  their  growth,  and  strengthen  with  their  etrength," 

until  they  arrive  at  maturity,  and  become  beings  with  a  higher  sense 
of  social  happiness  and  enjoyment.  Blot  out  the  Sabbath,  and  where 
are  your  Sabbath-Schools  ? — where  then  shall  you  look  for  the  train- 
ing and  instruction  of  these  young  and  tender  minds  ? 

But  I  go  farther  than  this.  Not  only  do  we  need  the  Sabbath  to 
sustain  the  Sabbath-School  ;  but  for  the  faiTiily  circle.  It  is  all-im- 
portant, in  order  to  social  happiness,  that  there  should  be  order,  and 
intelligence,  and  happiness,  in  the  family  ;  and  there  is  nothing  like 
the  Sabbath,  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  children,  as  they  grow  up, 
the  truth,  that  religion  and  intelligence  are  the  only  means  of  becom- 
ing blessings  to  society,  and  benefactors  of  their  race.  Let  me  ask, 
what  it  is  that  has  rendered  the  social  character  of  the  men  of  New- 
England,  so  elevated,  so  pure,  so  staid,  so  orderly,  and  stern  ?  Why 
is  it  that,  from  father  to  son,  from  generation  to  generation,  that  land 
has  held  so  high  a  station  in  society,  and  why  does  social  order  exist 
to  the  extent  that  it  does  there  ?  It  is  because  they  attend  to  the  ob- 
servance of  the  holy  Sabbath.  I  attribute  it  to  the  respect  they  have 
for  this  holy  institution.  Take  the  history  of  New-England  from  the 
landing  on  Plymouth  rock,  to  the  present  day,  and  you  will  find  that 
sons  and  sons'  sons,  for  successive  generations,  have  been  leading 
men  in  the  church — deacons  and  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  and  trace 
it  up  far  as  you  may,  you  will  find  they  have  been  useful  men,  and 
to  a  high  degree  possessed  of  social  happiness.  Now  do  you  ask 
why  it  is  ?  I  say  it  is  because  they  attend  to  the  regular  duties  of 
the  Sabbath.  Compare  their  habits  with  those  which  you  may  ob- 
serve on  our  canals ;  look  at  the  social  habits  and  feelings  there. 
2* 


20 

You  find  there  no  Sabbaths,  which  are  so  essential  to  a  high  degree 
of  social  enjoyment.  Blot  out  the  Sabbath — work  upon  that  as  upon 
the  other  six  days  of  the  week,  and  you  blot  out  all  the  blessed 
opportunities  of  giving  social  improvement  to  men.  As  I  was  coming 
down  to  this  place,  I  fell  into  conversation  with  a  boat  captain,  and 
among  other  subjects  we  spoke  of  this.  He  said,  "Give  us  the  Sab- 
bath,  for  we  want  and  need  it."  "And  why  do  you  need  it?"  I 
asked  him.  "  That  we  may  attend  chui'ch,'"'  said  he,  "  and  hear  the 
gospel  preached — that  we  may  go  into  our  families  and  spend  it  there 
like  social  beings."  That  is  the  feeling  of  the  large  mass  of  men 
who  are  working  along  our  canals.  I  wish  these  men  knew  their 
power.  I  wish  they,  one  and  all,  understood,  that  if  they  should  re- 
fuse to  work  upon  the  holy  Sabbath,  that  their  wages  would  not  be 
reduced.  If  they  should  say,  "  God  gave  us  the  Sabbath,  and  we 
want  it — we  want  it  as  social  beings,  that  we  may  enjoy  the  social 
blessings  to  which  we  have  a  right;"  their  wages  would  not  be 
reduced. 

I  hope,  in  making  these  few  remarks,  that  the  social  bearings 
of  the  Sabbath  may  not  be  lost  sight  of.  Take  the  history  of 
the  world,  and  you  will  find  the  Sabbath  absolutely  necessary,  on 
account  of  its  social  influence  on  mankind.  It  is  needed  as  a  day 
when  he  may  ivind  up  his  worldly  affairs,  and  have  a  fresh  starting, 
point.  Hence  it  is,  that  even  the  French  philosophers,  who  discarded 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  found  it  absolutely  necessary  to  have  some 
day  of  rest,  and  therefore  made  a  week  of  ten  days.  With  regard 
to  the  social  bearings  of  this  sacred  day,  we  may  well  apply  to  it  what 
that  great  divine,  Robert  Hall,  said  of  family  prayer — that  "it  is 
to  human  life  what  selvage  is  to  a  web  of  cloth  ;  it  keeps  it  from  un- 
ravelling." So  it  is  with  the  Sabbath — in  all  the  business  operations 
of  individuals,  and  in  all  aspects  of  society,  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  the  well-being  of  man. 

Rev.  Asa  Rand,  said  that  it  appeared  to  him  that  the  facts  which 
had  been  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Wisnkr,  gave  to  the  occasion  a  pecul- 
iarly  solemn,  yet  joyful  interest.  Was  it  in  Western  New-York, 
that  the  first  attempt  was  made,  in  1829,  to  stay  the  desecration  of 
the  Sabbath ;  and  was  it  here,  that  God  had  poured  out  his  blessing, 
because  here  his  people  had  borne  such  a  part  in  staying  its  violation  ? 
And  have  temporal  and  spiritual  prosperity  been  the  lot  of  this  favored 
part  of  the  nation,  rather  than  of  any  other  ?  And  now,  while  the 
judgments  of  heaven  are  hanging  over  our  land,  are  we  in  a  mea- 
sure exempted  from  them  ?  Was  that  the  result  of  the  first  move- 
ment in  this  question  ?  And  is  it  here  also  that  the  present  movement 
in  favor  of  the  Sabbath  orginated  ?  And  what  do  we  gather  from  the 
divine  book  with  reference  to  the  Divine  Mind,  in  regard  to  the 
present  movement  ?  Is  it  reserved  for  this  section  of  country,  in 
1842,  to  put  again  in  motion  the  same  agencies,  that  in  '29  were  so 
fruitful  of  good  results  ?  Let,  then,  this  work  be  carried  forward  ; 
let  labors  of  the  effort  be  sustained  ;  let  the  sound  of  our  remon- 
strance against  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  be  heard  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land  again ;  and  the  Lord  will  again 
bless  us,  and  the  whole  land  shall  again  rejoice  in  his  smiles. 


Mr.  KiNGsnuRV,  of  Cloveland,  Ohio,  said  he  should  like  to  mention 
a  fact,  called  to  mind  by  the  allusion  to  the  captain  of  a  boat  with 
whom  Mr.  Wisner  had  conversed.  Eflbrts,  said  he,  were  made  last 
winter  at  Cleveland,  to  aid  the  boatmen  and  sailors  in  regard  to  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath.  At  first  it  was  supposed  by  the  Bethel 
Captain,  that  we  should  not  bo  able  to  do  much.  He  said  to  us  that 
perhaps  we  mic;fht  obtain  one  member  to  a  pledge  of  that  kind  in  his 
whole  congregation — but  not  more.  "It  is  possible,'"'  said  he,  "that 
you  may  get  one  more,  but  I  doubt  it ;  and  I  do  not  think  it  best  to 
insit  upon  a  pledge;  that  we  will  not  labor  on  the  Sabbath,  nor  sail 
out  of  port,  nor  do  any  \j'ork  in  port  on  the  Sabbath."  Well,  we 
went  forward,  notwithstanding  ;  and  at  the  first  meeting  which  we 
held,  about  ihirfi/  of  those  present  signed  the  p/fi(/^c.  A  great  num- 
ber of  meetings  were  held  during  the  winter,  and  before  the  close, 
eighty  sailors  had  put  their  names  to  a  pledge  not  to  labor  on  the 
Sabbath  ;  and  they  called  on  all  to  aid  them  in  the  work;  they  felt 
degraded  by  laboring  on  that  day,  and  they  wished  every  man  to  lift 
up  his  voice  in  behalf  of  the  Sabbath.  About  six  hundred  individu- 
als in  that  city,  gave  their  names  to  the  same  pledge.  Efforts  have  also 
been  made  to  secure  the  closing  of  ware-houses  on  the  Sabbath;  and 
from  twenty  two,  out  of  twenty-four,  we  have  obtained  pledges  to  do 
60.  The  captain,  who  has  been  active  in  circulating  tracts  and  Bi- 
bles, has  told  me  that  he  has  not  seen  a  single  ship's  crew  loading  or 
unloading  a  vessel  on  the  Sabbath,  during  .the  season.  One  captain 
came  into  port  on  Sunday,  came  on  dock,  and  said  to  his  men,  "come, 
all  hands,  take  hold  and  unload  ;  put  these  things  on  here."  The 
sailors  said  they  did  not  like  to  work  on  the  Sabbath.  He  "Couldn't 
help  it,"  he  said;  "they  must  take  hold."  But,  said  they,  "God 
forbids  us  to  labor  on  the  Sabbath."  "  I  can't  help  that,"  said  he  : 
"this  load  must  go  ashore."  "But,"  they  replied,  "the  laws  of  our 
country  forbid  it ;  some  do  not  like  to  incur  punishment  by  disobey- 
ing them."  "  Well,"  he  said,  "  the  goods  must  go  ashore  !"  And 
when  he  found  that  they  were  resolutely  detfrmined  not  to  work  on 
that  day,  he  applied  to  other  men,  from  whom  he  obtained  similar 
replies.  Said  they,  "we  will  be  here,  captain,  at  any  time  you 
may  choose,  on  Monday  ;  but  we  will  not  work  on  the  Sabbath." 
"  Well  then,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  send  you  all  ashore."  "  Very  well," 
said  they ;  "  if  you  insist  upon  it,  we  will  go — though  we  should  be 
glad  to  work  for  you."  "  Well,  after  all,"  said  he,  "  you  may  come 
on  Monday  morning,  at  four  o'clock  ;  it  will  answer  just  as  well." 

As  I  was  coming  through  Butfalo,  the  Bethel  chaplain  said  that  a 
whole  crew  had  been  dismissed  there,  because  they  would  not  labor 
on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  the  next  morning  every  one  of  them  was  re- 
shipped.  The  captain  was  forced  to  do  it,  because  he  could  not  get 
better  hands.  A  few  weeks  before,  a  similar  instance  had  occurred, 
and  was  followed  by  the  s^me  results.  The  sail^^rs  and  boatmen  in 
that  region,  all  feel  as  if  they  wanted  the  Sabbath.  They  all  arc 
urgent  for  its  privileges.  The  same  thing  is  evident  in  the  efforts 
that  have  been  made  in  that  section  of  the  country,  as  well  as  at 
Cleveland.  I  had  a  letter  put  into  my  hands  at  Buffalo,  by  an  old 
weather-beaten  tar  whom  I  had  never  seen  before,  and  whose  name 


22 

I  did  not  know.      I  should  be  glad  if  some  one  would  read  it — as  I 
think  it  would  be  of  some  interest  to  the  Convention  : 

Rev.  Timothy  Stillman  said  that  the  letter  was  exceedingly  in- 
teresting to  him,  as  shewing  the  interest  which  sailors  and  boatmen 
took  in  the  efforts  that  were  made  to  prevent  the  desecration  of  the 
Sabbath.     He  would  therefore  read  it,  as  follows : 

Buffalo,  July  7,  1842. 
Rev.  Sir  : 

Having  attended  some  of  your  meetings,  and  seeing  the  inter- 
est that  is  manifested  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  sail- 
ors, I  have  taken  the  pen  to  assist,  if  possible,  so  glorious  a  cause, 
and  to  attack  that  arch  enemy  of  civil  and  religious  improvement — 
Saibath-hreaking.  Amongst  the  various  plans  for  promoting  the  ob- 
servance of  the  Sabbath,  there  is  one  which  1  have  never  heard  pro- 
posed, and  which,  if  it  did  not  advance  the  cause  of  religion,  would 
help  to  shut  the  mouth  of  the  scoffer. 

The  greatest  enemies  of  the  Christian  religion,  have  been  pro- 
fessors. The  assaults  of  the  infidel  would  be  in  vain,  if  the  beha- 
vior of  those  within  the  camp,  did  not  invite  the  attack.  I  do  not 
advert  to  the  occasional  falls  which  every  Christian  has  to  mourn  in 
his  earthly  pilgrimage.  I  wish  to  point  to  the  different  owners  of 
vessels  navigating  these  waters,  and  inquire  how  many  of  these,  who 
are  professors  of  religion,  charge  the  captain  not  to  break  the  Sab- 
bath. They  are  but  few.  How  often  do  we  see  them,  with  Pharisai- 
cal complacency,  going  to  church,  and  thanking  God  that  they  are 
not  as  other  men  :  they  do  not  work  on  the  Sabbath  :  who  will  lay 
anything  to  their  charge  ?  But  do  they  fulfil  the  divine  command, 
"  Remember  the  Sabbath,"  whilst  their  vessels  openly  profane  it — 
while  the  man  whom  he  has  placed  in  command,  fearful  of  losing  his 
place,  drives  ahead  from  day-light  till  dark,  Sunday  and  everyday — 
while  the  curse  of  the  oppressed  seaman,  and  the  laugh  of  the  scof- 
fer ascends  together  to  the  throne  of  God  ?  This  is  no  imaginary 
evil.  How  are  you  going  to  make  the  sailor  believe  that  the  reli- 
gion of  Christ  is  love,  while  they  are  so  often  ground  to  the  dust  by 
professors  of  Christ  ?  Perhaps  some  may  say,  If  he  is  not  at  work, 
he  will  be  worse  employed  ;  but  that  will  not  excuse  you  ;  if  he 
does  wrong,  to  God  he  must  give  account. 

But  how  is  the  evil  to  be  remedied  ?  Let  every  minister  of  the 
gospel,  at  the  different  parts  on  these  waters,  find  out  who  of  their 
congregation  are  interested  in  steam-boats  or  sailing  vessels  ;  then 
urge  them  to  command  their  officers  that  they  do  not  work  on  the 
Sabbath,  on  pain  of  losing  communion  with  the  church.  And  let  no 
commission-merchant,  or  any  person  in  his  employ,  receive  or  for- 
ward any  goods  on  that  day,  or  allow  the  crew  of  any  vessel  to  car- 
ry goods  into  his  ware-house,  on  pain  of  excommunication.  This 
will  tend  greatly  to  stop  working  on  the  Sabbath.  It  will  likewise 
stop  the  mouths  of  scoffers,  who  have  so  long  laughed  at  this  sad  in- 
consistency. It  will  make  the  sailor  who  has  so  long  cursed  the 
hypocrisy  of  his  owners,  pause  and  think  ;  and  when  he  sees 
the  zeal  of  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  in  promoting  his  temporal 


«3 

welfare,  he  may  be  led  to  believe  that  religion  is  no  empty  sound — 
that  it  is  peace  and  good-will  to  man. 

It  would  be  well  to  have  a  register  of  all  the  names  of  vessels  that 
<lo  not  work  on  Sunday,  placed  in  the  diirerent  Bethels  and  Seamen's 
Houses,  so  that  they  might  know  which  to  choose.  I  may  here  re- 
mark, that  there  is  nothing  so  demoralizing,  as  working  on  the  Sab- 
bath, especially  if  the  vessel  is  owned  by  professors  of  religion.  I 
never  yet  saw  a  sailor  that  went  to  work  on  that  day,  with  the  will 
that  he  would  on  other  days.  The  whole  body  of  them  arc  against 
it,  and  it  is  only  the  fear  of  being  thrown  out  of  employment,  that 
will  make  them  work  on  that  day. 

I  shall  conclude  by  wishing  you  great  success  in  the  cause  which 
you  have  so  nobly  advocated.  If  these  views,  laid  down  in  these 
lines,  should  be  of  any  use  to  that  cause,  it  will  never  be  a  matter  of 
regret  that  they  have  been  written  by 

A  SAILOR. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hull,  of  Dansville,  said  that  before  the  question  was 
taken,  he  wished  to  mention  one  fact.  He  said  that  in  1830  and 
J  831,  he  occupied  a  portion  of  South  Central  New- York — in  a  por- 
tion of  Chenango  and  Delaware  counties.  He  alluded  to  the  result 
of  the  presentation  of  petitions  for  staying  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  Presbytery  and  churches  of  Delaware  county  were  feeble,  but 
a  great  deal  was  done  in  that  good  cause.  Strenuous  efforts  were 
made  in  that  county,  to  stay  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  in 
no  place  had  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High  more  conspicuously  at- 
tended their  efforts.  In  1831,  in  that  small  Presbytery,  3000  were 
added  to  the  cliurch.  In  one  congregation,  every  head  of  a  family 
had  become  a  praying  man,  hut  one  ;  and  every  child  in  the  Sabbath- 
School.  In  one  villace  of  sixty  families,  all,  save  five,  had  become 
praying  souls.  In  that  neighborhood,  at  a  school-meeting,  eighty  or 
ninety  had  been  converted  to  God,  and  gathered  inio  ins  church.  In 
one,  eighty  conversions  were  the  result  of  their  Christian  labors;  and 
in  another,  one  hundred — as  testified  by  addition  to  the  church.  And 
•such  days  of  revival,  during  sixteen  years  of  ministerial  service,  I  had 
never  before  witnessed.  In  that  place,  there  is  undoubtedly  as  much 
done,  in   proportion  to  their  numbers,  as  in  any  portion  of  New-York. 

Mr.  Jessup,  of  Palmyra,  wished  to  correct  one  fact,  with  reference 
to  what  had  been  said  of  the  captivity  of  the  Jews.  It  had  been  said 
the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  was  the  only  reason  given  by  God,  for 
leading  them  into  captivity  ;  but  if  reference  should  be  made  to  the 
record,  it  would  be  seen  that  there  was  another  reason — and  tiiat  was, 
their  oppression — a«  detailed  in  the  34th  chapter  of  Jeremiah.  And 
the  subsequent  history  of  that  nation,  carries  out  the  fact,  that  they 
were  led  into  captivity  as  much  for  their  oppression,  as  for  their  Sab- 
bath breaking. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  third  resolution,  and  it  was 
unanimously  adopted. 

The  hour  for  adjournment  having  arrived,  the  Convention  took  a  re 
cess  of  an  hour  and  a  half. 


e^ 


24 

71  o'clock,  p.  m. 

Dr.  Edwards,  from  the  Business  Committee,  reported  additional  re- 
solutions— which,  by  vote  of  the  Convention,  were  read. 

The  fourth  resolution  was  then  taken  up  and  read,  as  follows  : 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  required  by 
the  moral  constitution  of  men,  as  really  as  by  the  command  of  God  ; 
and  in  requiring  them  to  remember  and  keep  it  holy,  he  consults 
their  highest  present  good,  as  well  as  his  own  glory,  and  the  good  of 
the  universe. 

Rev.  Mr.  Curry,  of  Lockport,  said  that  he  wished  to  call  the  attention 
of  the  Convention  for  a  few  moments,  to  the  sentiment  contained  in 
this  resolution,that  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  required  by  thephys- 
ical  constitution  of  man,  as  really  as  by  the  command  of  God.  Did 
time  permit,  said  he,  many  important  reasons  might  be  given  to  show 
the  truth  of  this  opinion,  which  was  abundantly  confirmed  by  expe- 
rience. I  shall  refer,  however,  to  only  two  of  them ;  and  the  first  i.9 
derived  from  the  fact,  that  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  as  a  day 
of  rest,  is  a  command  of  God.  All  of  us.  Sir,  who  believe  in  the  ex- 
istence of  a  God,  are  firmly  persuaded  that  the  Judge  of  the  whole 
earth  shall  do  right ;  and  that  when  he  gives  a  command,  by  which 
we  are  to  be  governed,  it  is  adapted  to  promote  our  own  good,  as  well 
as  his  glory,  and  the  good  of  the  universe.  We  know  from  experi- 
ence, as  well  as  from  what  we  regard  as  being  the  essential  nature  of 
all  his  doings,  that  all  his  commandments  are,  in  their  observance, 
calculated  to  make  us  happy  and  comfortable  in  mind  and  in  body. 
And  if  there  were  no  other  reason,  the  fact,  that  God  rested  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  in  the  minds  of  all  reflecting  persons,  would  be  sufficient 
to  establish  the  necessity  of  observing  the  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  rest, 
— even  to  the  physical  wants  and  constitution  of  man.  It  is  called 
a  day  of  rest — the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord — the  rest ;  and  the  Almighty 
refers  to  his  own  example,  as  having  rested  from  his  own  works. 
And  in  the  change  of  the  dispensation  in  the  New  Testament,  we 
have  the  example  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  rested  also  from  his  work,  as 
the  Redeemer — as  God  the  Father  did  from  the  work  of  Creation  ; 
and  in  this,  as  in  the  other,  we  have  the  highest  reason  embodied  for 
the  observance  of  the  day — namely,  the  example  set  by  the  omnipo- 
tent God. 

But  I  shall  not  dwell  upon  this  argument.  God  has  permitted  usy 
in  the  course  of  observation  and  experience,  to  become  acquainted 
with  many  facts  by  which  this  view  of  the  subject  is  enforced.  To 
the  physical  constitution  of  man,  a  rest  is  an  absolute  necessity  ;  and 
God  has  wisely  ordained  the  alternations  of  day  and  night,  to  bring 
about  the  periodical  seasons  of  rest  and  action.  We  find  also  a  ne- 
cessity, every  few  hours,  to  abstain  from  active  labor,  in  order  to 
sustain  the  physical  operations  of  the  system,  and  to  refresh  the 
frame  by  rest  and  sleep.  And  why?  Because,  the  physical  consti- 
tution is  so  constructed  by  the  God  of  nature,  that  after  a  few  hours* 
exertion,  both  mind  and  body,  in  order  to  preserve  that  degree  of 
vigor  which  is  necessary  for  useful  exertion,  must  rest — must  have  a 
corresponding  relaxation  and  absolute  cessation  from  activity.  For 
this  it  is  that  God  has  given  us  the  alternations  of  day  and  night. 


25 

If  we  obgcrvc  the  animal  creation,  we  shall  find  that  the  period  of 
rest  which  Cod  has  allotcd  tolhcin  in  connexion  with  his  command, 
enforcing  the  Sabbath,  is  precisely  that  time  which  all  experience  de- 
clares is  best,  in  order  to  give  the  greatest  possible  activity  to  the 
system. 

'  I  well  remember,  Sir,  that  when  a  little  boy  in  Kentucky,  my  aged 
grandfather  told  the  following  fact.  He  went  to  that  State  betore  the 
Indians  had  left  it  ;  and  at  that  early  day,  a  common  employment 
was  to  carry  goods  between  Lexington  and  Limestone.  The  road 
being  bad,  it  was  necessary  to  be  out  several  weeks  at  a  time.  His 
mother  had  tjiught  him  to  observe  the  Sabbath  ;  and  it  was  his  cus- 
tom, wherever  Saturday  night  found  him,  there  to  remain  until  Mon- 
day. She  declared  that  he  always  made  quicker  trips,  with  better 
health  and  stronger  horses,  than  any  other  teamsters  on  that  route  ; 
for  he  was  a  very  Ishmaelite  in  that  respect — no  others  could  com- 
pare witli  him.  And  in  an  excellent  report  before  the  British  Par- 
liament, it  is  stated  by  a  gentleman  of  Birmingham,  who  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  conducting  a  stage-route,  that  when  he  rested  upon  the 
Sabbatli,  he  had  purchased  new  horses  once  in  about  three  months : 
when  he  gave  them  no  rest,  but  drove  them  seven  days  in  the  week, 
he  was  forced  to  buy  new  ones  once  a  week ;  and  tins  is  the  differ- 
ence .  Most  of  you,  too,  may  have  seen  the  testimony  taken  before 
the  British  House  of  Commons,  where  the  statements  of  the  most  em- 
inent physicians  were  taken,  with  regard  to  the  effect  of  resting  on 
the  Sabbath,  on  the  physical  constitution  of  man.  Dr.  Farce,  in  his 
statements  on  this  subject,  is  very  guarded,  and  takes  particular  care 
to  say  that  he  speaks  only  as  a  medical  man  ;  that  he  has  nothing  to 
do  with  the  theology  of  the  question,  but  solely  with  its  physiology; 
and  he  declares  that,  from  all  his  experience,  he  is  satisfied  that  a 
rest  of  one  whole  day  in  seven,  is  absolutely  necessary;  and  that, 
therefore,  every  man  should  keep  the  Sabbath,  in  order  to  be  posses- 
sed of  the  greatest  possible  degree  of  physical  force,  and  to  live  to 
the  greatest  possible  age.  But  there  is  not  time  nor  is  it  important 
to  enter  minutely  into  the  detail  of  these  facts.  The  substance  of 
the  testimony  is  briefly  this,  that  man's  constitution  requires  relaxa- 
tion and  rest,  not  only  at  night,  but  at  least  once  in  seven  days,  for 
a  whole  day  ;  and  Dr.  Farce  states  it  as  a  fact,  derived  from  his  own 
observation  and  experience  as  a  practising  physician,  and  as  the  re- 
sult of  the  experience  of  others,  that  no  other  part  of  time  but  one- 
seventh,  would  appear  to  be  appropriate  for  this  purpose. 

There  is  another  class  of  facts  to  which  I  would  call  the  attention 
of  the  Convention  ;  and  I  do  it  merely  for  the  purpose  of  requesting 
each  individual  to  recall  to  his  own  mind  the  facts  which  must  have 
fallen  under  his  observation.  I  firmly  believe  that  a  large  proportion 
of  the  ill  health  which  now  prevails  in  the  United  States,  (and  1  speak 
only  for  myself  when  I  say  it,)  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  the 
rest  of  the  holy  Sabbath  is  not  observed  ;  and  I  believe  that  if  the 
facts  could  be  ascertained  and  statistical  tables  prepared,  it  would 
be  found  that  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  keeping  the  Sabbath  of 
the  Lord  holy,  uniformly  live  the  longest,  and  are  able  to  prosecute 
their  business  with  the  greatest  vigor  and  success ;  and  that  those 


26 

very  men  who  refuse  to  rest  on  the  Sabbath  day,  are  overtaken  by 
premature  old  age,  are  hurried  to  the  grave  and  forgotten — whereas, 
if  they  had  kept  it  as  a  day  of  rest,  there  is  the  best  reason  to  believe 
that  they  might  have  lived  and  flourished  years  longer  than  they  did. 
I  have  been  struck  with  facts  during  thp  last  ten  years,  as  it  has  been 
my  lot  to  travel  extensively,  observed  with  regard  to  steam-boat  cap- 
tains and  captains  of  vessels  and  canal-boats.  I  have  seen  those  who, 
ten  years  before,  were  young  and  full  of  vigor,  gray-headed  and  de- 
crepit, and  for  no  other  reason  under  heaven,  than  because  they  have 
labored  seven  days  in  the  week,  instead  of  six.  They  have  confessed 
that  they  had  thus  worn  themselves  out,  body  and  mind,  by  desecra- 
ting the  holy  Sabbath;  and  that  is  the  experience  of  every  one  who 
has  done  it. 

But  time  will  not  permit  to  enter  upon  this  subject  at  any  great 
length.  The  whole  matter  resolves  itself  to  this,  that  the  refusal  to 
rest  on  the  Sabbath,  is  closely  connected  with  a  train  of  diseases 
which  ruin  both  mind  and  body.  I  need  not  do  more  than  advert  to 
the  fact,  that  almost  every  vice  which  scourges  society,  has  its  origin 
in  Sabbath-breaking.  A  man  will  not  be  a  drunkard,  unless  he  is  a 
Sabbath-breaker.  And,  go  through  the  land,  you  will  find  that  the 
Washingtonians,  who  have  been  drunkards  and  Sabbath-breakers, 
can  reform  themselves  only  by  becoming  Sabbath-keepers.  It  has 
been  tried  over  and  over  again,  and  has  never  been  found  to  fail,  and 
it  never  will  fail.  All  vices  are  akin  to  Sabbath-breaking,  and  de- 
pend upon  it.  In  regard  to  the  last  fact.  Sir,  I  appeal  to  every  man 
forty  years  of  age,  to  call  to  mind  his  old  associates.  Where  are  the 
companions  of  his  youth — where  are  the  playmates  of  his  childhood  ? 
Echo  answers,  where  !  One  man  will  tell  you  that  it  is  only  by 
keeping  the  Sabbath,  that  he  is  alive  and  in  health;  and  I,  for  one, 
assert  that  many  who  were  taught  in  their  youth  to  keep  the  Sabbath, 
have  outlived,  by  ten  or  twenty  years,  those  upon  whom  no  such  re- 
straint  was  laid. 

With  these  few  naked  hints.  Sir,  hoping  that  other  gentlemen  will 
impart  valuable  information  upon  the  same  point,  I  submit  the  ques- 
tion. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  thought  that  the  facts  referred  to  by  the  last 
speaker,  and  a  multitude  of  other  facts  of  the  same  kind,  which  might 
be  enumerated,  touching  every  department  of  human  life,  proved 
conclusively  the  truth  of  the  resolution  regarding  the  physical  con- 
stitution of  man  ;  and,  said  he,  I  have  no  doubt  that  if  the  Christian 
and  philosophic  medical  men  would  follow  up  the  thought  of  Dr. 
Faree  in  the  British  Parliament,  it  would  be  found  to  be  strikingly 
illustrated  every  where,  all  over  the  world,  viz. :  that  the  individu- 
als,  the  family,  the  neighborhood,  the  community,  who  do  not  keep 
the  Sabbath,  cannot,  as  individuals,  as  a  family,  as  a  neighborhood, 
or  as  a  community,  with  all  the  efforts  they  may  make,  enjoy  the 
health  which  will  attend  those  who  do  keep  that  holy  day — that  it  is 
not  in  the  power  of  all  the  physicians  on  earth,  to  give  that  degree  of 
health.  Now  as  all  facts,  Sir,  are  only  the  voice  of  God  speaking 
through  his  providence,  we  may  well  be  warranted  in  saying  to  all 
people,  the  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard.     God  has  said  it,  and  he 


27 

is  pledged  to  the  universe  to  make  that  appear.  Some  men  have  faith 
in  him,  and  they  believe  that  saying  true ;  and  being  moved  by  that 
faith,  they  act  accordingly  and  receive  the  benefit.  But  all  men 
have  not  faith:  an  evil  iieart  of  unbelief  turns  them  aside,  and  they 
do  not  believe  that  the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard  ;  and  the  point 
is  at  issue  between  them  and  him.  Now,  let  the  potsherds,  if  they 
must  strive,  strive  witli  the  potsherds  of  eartli ;  but  wo  unto  him  that 
shall  strive  with  his  Maker.  He  lliat  siltcth  in  the  heavens,  shall 
laugh:  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  derision;  and  he  will  make  it 
appear  to  the  universe  that  he  is  true,  and  blessed  are  they  that  think 
so  in  season  to  take  the  benefit  of  that  truth. 

And  that  we,  Sir,  may  do  sometiiing  to  induce  them  to  take  that 
course,  that  their  peace  may  be  as  a  river,  (Oh  !  that  there  might  be 
in  them  such  a  heart !)  is  the  great  object  of  this  meeting.  And,  to 
do  something  to  accomplish  this,  I  wish  to  say  that  tiie  grand  instru- 
ment of  doing  good  to  apostate  man,  is  two-fold,  exam})le  and  sound 
reason,  sound  argument  plainly  and  kindly  expressed,  just  as  God 
does  dimself,  who  knows  perfectly  well  what  is  in  man,  apostate  as 
he  is,  and  how  to  appeal  to  his  inmost  soul  and  turn  him  as  the  rivers 
of  waier  are  turned  ;  and  good  example.  Even  the  infidel  philoso- 
phers of  France,  highly  polished,  and  perfectly  educated,  and  deeply 
reflecting,  and  long  reaching  as  they  were,  had  caught  this  thought ; 
and  when  they  would  accomplish  their  object,  what  did  they  do  ? 
They  set  the  example  of  rejecting  truth,  and  then  threw  out  upon  the 
wings  of  the  wind,  the  little  messengers  vvjiich  should  go  every  where 
especially  among  the  laboring  people,  and  convince  them,  if  possible, 
that  they  were  oppressed,  and  priest-ridden,  and  fettered,  and  shack- 
led ;  and  if  they  would  assert  their  rights,  they  must  throw  off  their 
burdens.  And  this  idea  the  Christian  world  caught,  that  if  they  too 
would  reach  the  mass  of  the  people,  they  must  set  the  example,  and 
then  follow  it  with  these  messengers  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  ;  and 
that  is  the  origin  of  these  tracts  and  tract  societies. 

It  is  said  that  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man.  And  so  was  the 
sun  made  for  man  ;  but  change  its  rays  but  a  little,  and,  instead  of 
life,  it  produces  death.  It  is  not  made  for  man,  then.  The  air  was 
made  for  man  ;  but  change  its  combination,  and  we  shall  inhale,  at 
every  breath,  mortal  poison.  But  not  so  now — because  it  was  made 
for  man  as  it  now  is  ;  and  every  thing  which  man  controls,  the  beasts 
of  the  field,  and  the  fowls  of  heaven,  and  the  fish  of  the  sea,  were 
made  for  man  ;  and  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man  on  the  same 
principle,  and  man  was  also  made  for  it.  And  where  it  is  observed 
just  as  it  was  intended  it  should  be,  the  whole  moves  like  clock-work, 
until  the  divine  will  is  accomplished.  And  in  vain  are  all  the  de- 
vices of  man  to  make  things  better ;  for  he  who  saw  at  a  glance  the 
end  from  the  beginning,  said,  as  he  viewed  the  whole  creation,  all 
very  good — very  good — good  enough  to  satisfy  him,  and  it  ought  to 
satisfy  every  body  else,  and  it  would  if  tiiey  would  be  content  to  en- 
ter and  become  part  of  it.  Then  should  we  be  partakers  of  his  joy — 
heirs  of  God  to  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  lliat  shall 
never  fade  away  ;  for  it  is  held  under  the  best  of  grants :  All  that  I 
have,  is  thine.     And  to  give  to  us  this  mode  of  doing  good,  the  Sab- 


28 

bath,  so  friendly  to  all  the  interests  of  man,  for  both  worlds,  he  takes 
to  himself,  and  says  :  "  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor" — for  that  is  re- 
quired by  health,  by  the  physical  constitution  and  the  highest  comfort 
of  man.  He  commands  it  to  every  individual  under  heaven,  to  him 
individually,  vi^ith  no  intervention  of  civilized  constitutions  between: 
"  Thou  shalt  labor  six  days" — "  the  seventh  is  the  Sabbath  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son, 
nor  thy  daughter,  nor  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant."  And 
the  Sabbath  was  made  for  the  ox  and  the  horse,  and  for  the  laboring 
animal,  as  really  as  for  man  :  "  Nor  thy  ox,  nor  thy  ass,  nor  the 
stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates."  Why  not?  For  in  six  days 
the  Lord  worked  himself,  and  set  us  an  example,  and  the  highest  and 
best  example  that  ever  was  set  to  man.  Who  will  be  ashamed  to 
follow  it  ?  Who  would  not  rather  blush  to  depart  from  it  ?  But  on 
the  seventh  day  he  rested,  and  thus  set  an  example  to  all  the  earth. 
He  thus  gives  us  the  highest  example  and  the  best  of  all  reasons  that 
ought  to  govern  every  mind  under  heaven  ;  and  I  cannot  but  think 
that  if  all  men  here  would  set  the  example  to  every  body  within  their 
reach,  and  show  forth  the  reasons  why  all  men  should  do  the  same, 
we  should  see  a  stream  which,  like  the  river  of  God,  should  go  forth 
to  water  the  whole  globe.  For  the  Sabbath  was  made,  as  the  reso- 
lution declares,  for  the  moral  constitution  as  well  as  the  physical  ; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  day  when  creation  is  hushed  and  the  light  is 
put  away,  as  is  necessary  that  the  body  may  obtain  the  refreshment 
of  sleep,  we  have  here  a  great  principle  involved :  that,  to  obtain  re- 
freshment, the  world  must  be  shrouded  in  darkness  and  the  noise 
must  be  shut  out,  otherwise  it  will  be  prevented  ;  and  for  that  reason 
God  puts  the  sun  away  and  causes  creation  to  stop  its  voice,  in  order 
that  man  may  arise  refreshed  like  the  sun,  prepared  as  a  strong  man 
to  run  a  race.  And  now,  as  the  last  sun  of  the  week  has  gone  to 
rest,  the  curtain  of  our  Heavenly  Father  is  spread  over  creation  ; 
and  when  the  sun  rises  again  in  his  glory,  no  voice  is  heard,  no 
wheels  rattle  on  the  pavement,  no  shutter  is  open,  all  seem  to  be 
hearkening — listening.  What  is  the  matter  ?  Are  all  the  people 
asleep  ?  No  :  not  asleep  ;  but  still.  And  for  what  purpose  ?  That 
beautiful  sight  speaks  to  the  inmost  soul  of  every  sinner  under  the 
whole  heaven.  It  is  God's  preacher :  it  is  the  still,  small,  but  ef- 
fectual voice  of  God  speaking  to  the  soul  of  man,  and  saying  that  the 
Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.  There  is  no  visible  presence  and  no 
audible  voice  ;  but  simply  the  silent  will,  silently  expressed,  which 
hushes  all  creation — all  the  intelligent  creation  made  capable  of 
knowing  him,  is  hushed  to  silence  by  the  simple  knowledge  of  his 
will.  How  mightily  efficient !  He  speaks — he  wills,  and  it  is  done  ; 
and  every  body  feels  that  he  is  God  ;  and  the  philosophers  of  France 
were  no  fools  when  they  concluded  that  they  could  not  root  out  this 
idea  from  the  mmds  of  the  people,  so  long  as  they  let  them  have  the 
Sabbath.  It  is  the  voice  of  God  to  creation  ;  and  just  as  long  as  the 
Sabbath  opens  on  him  in  this  silence,  God  teaches  this  truth  and 
makes  man  feel  it.  And  that  is  just  the  preparation  that  every  body 
needs,  when  they  go  through  the  streets,  not  talking  much,  nothing 
of  this  world,  but  only  about  God  and  sacred  things.     This  is  just  the 


29 

preparation  neciliHl,  when  God  speaks  thus  to  men,  to  save  them  from 
the  {juilt  and  j)ollution  of  sin,  so  that  they  shall  begin  to  have  a  hea- 
ven here,  to  enjoy  that  life  where  youth  is  eternal.  This  influence 
is  needed  to  prepare  the  truth  to  have  a  due  eflect  on  the  people.  And 
if  every  one  were  taught  to  read,  and  if  every  one  owned  a  Bible, 
and  when  he  goes  to  his  home  should  search  it  to  see  what  was  there 
contained — if  he  should  go  thus  to  the  fountain-head,  he  will  know 
the  trutli  and  the  truth  shall  make  him  fvec  under  him  who  inspired 
it.  And  then  we  shall  see  intelligence,  and  morality,  and  conscience 
awakened  by  the  finger  of  God  :  then  we  shall  see  boldness  that  is 
not  afraid  to  look  in  the  face  of  clay — so  full  of  the  fear  of  God,  that 
there  is  room  for  no  other  fear  :  then  shall  we  see  kindness  proclaim- 
ing  glory  to  God,  in  the  highest,  and  breathing  out  through  all  de- 
partments of  human  life,  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men. 

Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney,  of  Oberlin,  said  that  he  had  been  list- 
ening  to  those  who  had  spoken  on  this  subject,  and  had  observed  that 
there  was  one  view  which,  for  want  of  time,  they  had  neglected 
to  take,  although  it  appeared  to  him  to  be  very  important.  You  will 
observe,  said  he,  that  the  resolution  takes  this  position,  that  the  Sab- 
bath is  demanded  by  the  physical  and  moral  constitution  of  man,  as 
well  as  by  the  command  of  God.  Now,  I  take  the  ground  which  all 
will  admit,  that  God  is  both  benevolent  and  intelligent.  I  take  these 
two  propositions  for  granted.  I  say,  in  the  next  place,  the  right  to 
govern,  is  founded  in  the  necessity  for  government.  No  being  has  a 
right  to  govern,  unless  government  is  demanded  by  the  highest  good  ; 
and  if  God  is  benevolent,  he  will  not  govern  his  creatures,  unless 
there  is  good  reason  for  governing  them.  The  same  thing  applies  to 
all  divine  legislation — there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  moral  law,  which  is 
not  founded  in  the  necessities  of  moral  beings.  God  has  enacted 
no  such  law — he  can  have  no  right  to  enact  any  such  law — 
and  if  he  be  benevolent,  he  will  not  do  it.  Now,  if  we  find  in  the 
world  that  God  has  legislated  on  this  subject,  we  know  it  is  for  some 
good  reason.  So,  if  we  look  at  the  physical  constitution  of  men,  and 
see  that  there  is  necessity  for  a  Sabbath,  it  might  be  thus  inferred, 
that  he  would  legislate  upon  the  subject.  Now,  when  we  look  at  the 
moral  and  physical  constitution  of  men,  we  find  that  there  is  there  a 
demand  for  rest,  once  in  seven  days  :  the  inference,  of  course,  is  that 
God  would  legislate  on  that  subject ;  he  would  pass  a  law  on  that  sub- 
ject, and  enjoin  the  observance  of  a  Sabbath.  So,  if  we  find  that  he 
has  made  such  a  law,  we  are  bound  to  believe  that  there  is  a  necessi- 
ty for  it,  and  that  it  lies  in  the  moral  and  physical  constitution  of 
man.  It  should  be  understood  that  this  is  commanded  only  because 
it  is  necessary  ;  it  is  not  enough  to  say  that  it  is  demanded  by  the 
moral  and  physical  constitution  of  men,  as  tvdl  and  truly  as  by  the 
command  of  God ;  but  it  is  commanded  by  God,  only  hccause  it  is 
necessary.  If  it  is  not  necessary,  then  it  is  not  obligatory.  The 
will  of  God,  independent  of  any  reason,  can  never  make  any  thing 
obligatory ;  for  he  has  no  right  to  legislate,  but  for  good  reasons. 
This  reason  must  lie  either  in  our  own  nature,  or  in  his.  fluppose 
that  he  legislates  upon  the  subject,  because  the  best  interests  of  uni- 
versal humanity  require  it :  what  are  its  sanctions  ?    It  has  been  said 


30 

that  he  enforces  it  by  his  own  example.  Now,  example  is  the  high- 
est influence  that  can  be  exerted — and  the  example  of  God,  is  the 
highest  in  the  universe.  It  is  often  said  that  actions  speak  louder 
than  words.  If  we  have  God's  example  before  the  universe,  on  any 
point,  we  have  an  example  of  the  highest  influence  possible.  When 
he  commands,  his  words  have  power ;  but  when  he  acts,  he  has  as 
much  power  as  acts  are  more  powerful  than  words.  Now,  suppose 
that  not  for  his  own  good,  but  for  ours,  he  has  given  us  this  example. 
Our  nature  needed  it ;  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  being  man,  needed  it, 
and  has  also  given  us  an  example.  What  has  absolved  us  from  its 
observance  !  The  law  must  be  unalterably  binding  ;  the  day  may 
be  changed,  but  while  our  moral  and  physical  natures  are  as  they  are, 
one-seventh  part  of  the  time  is  needed  for  rest — rest  from  our  ordi- 
nary avocations.  If  there  ever  was  a  good  reason  for  this  command, 
it  is  obligatory  now  ;  if  there  never  was  a  good  reason,  then  it  never 
was  obligatory.  If  it  ever  was,  then  it  ever  will  be,  as  long  as  we 
dwell  on  the  earth — no  authority  in  heaven,  or  on  earth,  can  set  it 
aside.  If  the  reason  be  in  the  nature  of  men,  it  must  remain.  There 
can  be  no  such  thing  as  an  obligation  to  observe  the  Sabbath  once, 
and  not  always.  The  truth  is,  the  command  exists  because  there 
was  necessity  for  it  in  the  nature  of  men  ;  and  while  the  nature  of 
men  remains  the  same,  the  command  will  be  as  stable  as  the  universe. 
When  it  is  said,  therefore,  by  the  resolution,  that  the  Sabbath  is  de- 
manded by  the  physical  and  moral  constitution  of  men,  as  really  as 
by  the  command  of  God,  I  add  that  it  is  a  command  of  God  for  that 
reason,  and  so  far  as  we  know,  for  no  other ;  and  the  fact  is,  that  the 
command  is  needed,  if  God  is  benevolent.  We  must  either  deny  the 
benevolence  of  God,  or  admit  that  the  necessity  for  the  Sabbath  lies 
deep  in  the  constitution  of  human  nature,  and  that  it  is  now  and  for 
ever  obligatory. 

Rev.  Dr.  Luckey,  of  Rochester,  said  that  if  he  had  been  capable 
of  analyzing  the  resolution,  its  main  object  is  to  enforce  this  truth  : 
that  the  physical  and  moral  well-being  of  man  requires  a  Sabbath ; 
and  in  view  of  this  necessity,  the  Sabbath  was  ordained.  It  seemed 
to  him  that,  if  this  truth  could  once  be  distinctly  and  sufficiently  im- 
pressed on  the  minds  of  community,  and  men  should  be  brought  to 
believe  it,  it  would  greatly  influence  their  action,  with  regard  to  rest- 
ing on  the  Sabbath.  It  adds  a  selfish,  to  all  other  motives  on  the 
the  subject.  All  men  regard  happiness  and  health ;  and  once  satisfy 
them  that  any  course  of  action  will  promote  these,  and  they  will  at 
once  adopt  it.  But,  for  some  reason,  they  are  exceedingly  tardy  in 
learning  a  lesson  like  this.  The  resolution,  as  I  understand  it,  asserts 
that  the  Sabbath  is  an  ordinance  of  God — that  the  observance  of  it, 
is  required  by  the  law  of  God,  and  is,  as  such,  enjoined  by  the  con- 
stitution of  man.  Admit  the  first — that  it  is  demanded  by  the  law  of 
God,  and  you  have  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of  the  last.  God  is 
good — and  when  you  establish  the  first,  the  other  follows,  of  course. 
If,  when  God  adjusted  light  to  the  eye,  and  the  eye  to  light,  the  air  to 
the  lu^^s,  and  the  lungs  to  the  air,  he,  at  the  same  time,  adjusted 
society  to  the  Sabbath,  and  the  Sabbath  to  society,  he  did  what  was 
perfectly  in  accordance  with  his  whole  government,  in  regard  to  man. 


31 

On  this  ground,  therefore,  all  who  believe  the  divine,  and  universal, 
and  perfect  obligation  of  the  Sabbath,  have  an  argument  at  once  in 
favor  of  its  necessity  for  man's  physical  well-being  ;  and  if  he  could 
not  see  one  single  physiological  argument  in  favor  of  it,  this  alone 
would  be  conclusive. 

It  may  be  that  with  many  present,  this  question  will  be  decided 
upon  (his  ground  ;  but  it  may  be  well  from  other  sources  to  draw  an 
argument  in  favor  of  the  Sabbath,  as  calculated  to  promote  health  and 
happiness.     I  listened  with  great  interest,  said  Dr.  Luckky,  to  the 
remarks  made  upon  this  part  of  the  subject — especially  by  the  first 
speaker  (iMr.  Cukrv) — wliose  observation  enables  him  to  speak  upon 
it  with  authority,  and  I  attach  to  his  opinions  the  greatest  weight — 
and  I  listened  to  him  with  great  interest  and  attention.      I  regret 
that  this  aspect  of  the  subject  is  not  more  generally  considered.     I 
know  not  why  it  is  that  the  physiological  bearings  of  the  question 
have  not  been  more  generally  spread  before  the    community.     It 
seems  strange  that  medical  men  have  not  more  generally  insisted  up- 
on the  fact,  that  man  needs  one  day  in  seven,  for  his  own  bodily 
health.      But  it  seems  as  if  Providence  had  clearly  directed  atten- 
tion to  this  subject.     Gentlemen  have  alluded  to  testimony  taken  be- 
fore a  committee  of  the  British  House  of  Commons,  of  which  it  may 
be  useful  to  make  farther  mention.     Some  seven  or  eight  years  ago, 
the  attention  of  the  British  Government  was  called  to  this  question, 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  examine  it.     They  did  so,  tho- 
roughly.    I  have  seen  only  an  abridged  account  of  their  conclusions ; 
but  from  the  evidence  then  taken,  it  would  seem  that  the  spirit  of  the 
British  nation,  with  regard  to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  is  not 
favorable  and  propitious.     As  a  portion  of  the  evidence,  there  is  giv- 
en a  very  grave  examination  of  Dr.  Farkk,  an  eminent  physician  of 
forty  years'  practice — who  had  studied  this  subject  more  closely  than 
any  other.     His  examination  was  exceedingly  strict,  and  his  evidence 
of  great  importance.     I  advert  to  this  fact,  for  the  reason,  that  w  hen 
I  left  here,  I  accidentally  laid  my  hands  on  a  volume  containing  an 
extract  from  his  testimony.     I  do  not  know  that  it  would  be  worth 
while  to  read  the  whole  of  it,  as  it  has  been  already  placed  before  the 
world  ;    but  the  question  has  not  heretofore  been  presented  as  fully 
as  it  ought  to  have  been ;  and  as  I  am  not  capable  of  doing  this  in  so 
forcible  a  light,  as  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Faree  does  it,  I  have  thought 
that  it  might  be  well  to  read  a  portion  of  it  before  this  Convention, 
in  order  to  its  more  general  dissemination,  and  its  salutary  effect.     I 
will  read  it,  so  far  as  it  particularly  relates  to  the  main  point  involved 
in  this  resolution : 

"  As  a  day  of  rest,  I  view  the  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  compensation 
for  the  inadequate  restorative  power  of  the  body  under  continued  la- 
bor and  excitement.  A  physician  always  has  respect  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  restorative  power,  because,  if  once  this  be  lost,  his  healing 
office  is  at  an  end.  If  I  show  you  from  the  physiological  view  of 
the  question,  that  there  are  provisions  in  the  law  of  nature,  which 
correspond  with  the  divine  commandment,  you  will  see  from  the  an- 
alogy, that  '  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man'  as  a  necessary  appoint- 
ment.    A  physician  is  anxious  to  preserve  the  balance  of  circulation, 


32 

as  necessary  to  the  restorative  power  of  the  body.  The  ordinary 
exertions  of  man  run  down  the  circulation  every  day  of  his  hfe  ;  and 
the  first  general  law  of  nature,  by  which  God  prevents  man  from 
destroying  himself,  is  the  alternating  of  day  with  night,  that  repose 
may  succeed  action.  But  although  the  night  apparently  equalizes 
the  circulation  well,  yet  it  does  not  sufficiently  restore  its  balance  for 
the  attainment  of  a  long  life.  Hence,  one  day  in  seven,  by  the 
bounty  of  Providence,  is  thrown  in  as  a  day  of  compensation 
to  perfect,  by  its  repose,  the  animal  system.  You  may  easily 
determine  this  question,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  by  trying  it  on  beasts 
of  burden.  Take  that  fine  animal,  the  horse,  and  work  him  to  the 
full  extent  of  his  powers,  every  day  in  the  week,  or  give  him  rest  one 
day  in  seven  ;  and  you  will  soon  perceive,  by  the  superior  vigor  with 
which  he  performs  his  functions  on  the  other  six  days,  that  this  rest  is 
necessary  to  his  well-being.  Man,  possessing  a  superior  nature,  is 
borne  along  by  the  very  vigor  of  his  mind,  so  that  the  injury  o( contin- 
ual diurnal  exertion  and  excitement  on  his  animal  system,  is  not  so 
immediately  apparent,  as  in  the  brute ;  but,  in  the  long  run,  he 
breaks  down  more  suddenly — it  abridges  the  length  of  his  life,  and 
that  vigor  of  his  old  age,  which,  (as  to  mere  animal  power)  ought  to 
be  the  object  of  his  preservation.  I  consider,  therefore,  that  in  the 
beautiful  provision  of  Providence,  for  the  preservation  of  human  life, 
the  Sabbatical  appointment  is  not,  as  it  has  been  sometimes  theologi- 
cally viewed,  simply  a  precept  partaking  of  the  nature  of  a  political 
institution  ;  but  that  it  is  to  be  numbered  among  the  natural  duties,  if 
the  preservation  of  life  be  admitted  to  be  a  duty,  and  the  premature 
destruction  of  it,  a  suicidal  act.  This  is  said  simply  as  a  physician, 
and  without  reference  at  all  to  the  theological  question  ;  but  if  you 
consider  further,  the  effect  of  real  Christianity,  namely,  peace  of 
mind,  confiding  trust  in  God,  and  good-will  to  man,  you  will  perceive 
in  this  source  of  renewed  vigor  to  the  mind,  and  through  the  mind,  to 
the  body,  an  additional  spring  of  life,  imparted  from  this  higher  use 
of  the  Sabbath,  as  a  holy  rest.  Were  I  to  pursue  this  part  of  the 
question,  I  should  be  touching  on  the  duties  committed  to  the  clergy  ; 
but  this  I  will  say,  that  researches  in  physiology,  by  the  analogy  of 
Providence  in  nature,  will  establish  the  truth  of  revelation,  and,  con- 
sequently,  show  that  the  divine  commandment  is  not  to  be  considered 
as  an  arbitrary  enactment,  but  as  an  appointment  necessary  to  man. 
This  is  the  position  in  which  I  would  place  it,  as  contradistinguished 
from  precept  and  legislation.  I  would  point  out  the  Sabbatical  rest  as 
necessary  to  man ;  and  that  the  great  enemies  of  the  Sabbath,  and, 
consequently,  the  enemies  of  man,  are  all  laborious  exercises  of  the 
body  or  mind,  and  dissipation,  which  force  the  circulation  on  that  day 
in  which  it  should  repose  ;  while  relaxation  from  the  ordinary  cares 
of  life,  the  enjoyment  of  this  repose  in  the  bosom  of  one's  family,  with 
the  religious  studies  and  duties  which  the  day  enjoins,  (not  one  of 
which,  if  rightly  exercised,  tends  to  abridge  life,)  constitute  the  bene- 
ficial  and  appropriate  services  of  the  day.  The  student  of  nature,  in 
becoming  the  student  of  Christ,  will  find  in  the  principles  of  his  doc- 
trine and  law,  and  in  the  practical  application  of  them,  the  only  and 
perfect  science  which  prolongs  the  present,  and  perfects  the  future 
life." 


35 

Dr.  Edwards  then  introduced  a  number  of  additional  resolutions 
for  th.'  consideration  of  the  Convention,  wliicli  were  laid  on  the  table. 

Ml.  HicKOK,  of  BulFalo,  rose  to  ask  tiiat,  in  tlie  discussions  of  that 
day,  a^  many  members  will  take  a  part,  as  possible.  He  wanted 
every  man  to  jjive  bis  cognovit  on  the  great  question  which  formed 
the  subjects  of  discussion.  He  wanted  them  to  sign  the  pledge,  as 
had  hren  done  with  reference  to  another  subject.  He  wanted  every 
man  in  the  bouse  to  speak,  even  if  it  were  but  for  a  minute — laymen 
as  well  as  the  clergy.  He  always  heard  the  clergy  with  great  pleas, 
ure,  but  be  asked  li\at  now  every  man  might  speak  out  bis  mind  ; 
and,  said  he,  if  every  one  will  here  give  his  cognovit,  he  will  be  bound 
to  us  in  Strang  bonds,  forever.  I  should  like  it  if  the  time  for  speak- 
ing  were  limited  io  five  minutes,  in  order  that  every  one  might  have 
a  chance  »o  speak.  At  any  rate,  he  hoped  tlic  fifteen-minutes  rule 
would  be  strictly  adhered  to,  as,  if  the  Convention  should  only  sit  for 
that  day,  he  feared  nt^any  would  be  deprived  of  the  opportunity  to 
epeak. 

Judge  WiLKESOx,  of  Buffalo,  said  that,  as  the  Convention  was  prin- 
cipally composed  of  members  of  the  church,  there  would,  of  course, 
be  little  difhculty  in  uniting  upon  what  was  the  will  of  God  with  re- 
gard to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  We  siiall,  said  he,  find  no 
difficulty  in  determining  what  is  our  duty  in  relation  to  its  observ. 
ance.  But  there  is  another  point  which  is  not  so  clear  :  that  is,  what 
is  it  our  duty  to  do,  to  arrest  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath?  whea 
shall  we  begin?  what  shall  we  do?  to  what  parts  shall  we  direct 
our  influence  ?  All  these  resolutions,  and  all  the  discussion  of  mem- 
bers, are  very  well  ;  but  unless  they  embrace  a  practical  point,  they 
will  utterly  fail.  If  we  would  accomplish  any  thing,  we  must  have 
some  practical  proposition  in  view.  We  might  go  on  and  interest 
each  other  for  weeks,  with  explanations  of  general  principles,  and  we 
might  derive  from  them  some  benefit.  This  is  all-  very  well,  and 
would  be  perfectly  proper  if  we  had  time,  and  if  it  were  a  season  of 
the  year  when  it  could  be  well  attended  to.  But  we  have  only  a 
few  hours  to  remain  together  ;  though  even  for  thai,  we  ought  to  be 
heartily  thankful  ;  and,  for  my  own  part,  I  feel  under  great  obliga- 
tions to  the  individuals  who  have  called  the  Convention  together. 
We  must  now  contrive  to  make  it  the  most  available.  We  must 
go  on  to  something  practical.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  that  we  should 
go  on  with  a  long  discussion  respecting  the  recognition  of  the  Sab- 
bath. Surely,  surely,  this  is  quite  unnecessary  at  this  time  and  be- 
fore this  Convention.  It  may  have  been  well  enough,  while  the  Bu- 
siness Committee  had  under  consideration  ways  and  means  by  which 
Christians  could  act  in  concert  to  effect  this  desirable  object,  the  ar- 
rest of  Sabbath  desecration.     This  is  what  is  now  wanted. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  what  was  done  in  1829 — to  the  efforts 
made  here — and  to  the  method  in  which  God  has  blessed  these  efforts. 
I  might  inquire,  without  the  slightest  disrespect  to  the  good  men  who 
took  part  in  those  efforts,  why  it  was  that  we  failed  at  that  time.  It 
was  a  Christian  effort,  and  why  did  it  fail  ?  The  defeat  came  from 
the  church.  Ask  every  man,  every  minister,  what  was  the  cause  of 
the  failure  ;  and  he  can  tell  you  that  it  failed  because  the  church 
3* 


36 

was  not  ready.  She  entered  into  the  cause  coldly,  and  in  a  worldly 
manner.  At  that  time,  for  my  own  part,  I  cared  nothing  about  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath  ;  but  I  patronized  the  "  Six-Day  Line"  of 
stages,  out  of  regard  for  my  own  personal  safety  :  they  were  mana- 
ged by  better  and  more  trust-worthy  men  than  the  others.  And  I 
continued  to  patronize  them  till  they  went  down. 

Now  the  proper  course  for  this  Convention,  is  to  address  itself  to 
the  feelings,  to  the  understandings,  and  to  the  consciences  of  the 
church  ;  and  to  ascertain  how  far  they  are  disposed  to  go  in  the  mat- 
ter.  We  may  go  on  enlightening  one  another  here  for  a  week,  with 
these  general  discussions  ;  and  what  shall  we  then  know  more  than 
we  do  now  ?  It  is  not  enough  that  we  enjoin  upon  every  father  of  a 
family,  that  he  wake  on  the  Sabbath  morning  and  contemplate  the 
goodness  of  God — that  he  feel  its  blessed  influences — that  he  regard 
it  as  a  relief  from  the  tire  of  the  house  and  the  field — that  change  of 
apparel  is  to  be  made — and  that  a  cheerful  thankfulness  be  felt  to 
God,  that  he  has  given  to  man  all  these  privileges.  We  do  not  want 
a  Convention  to  give  instruction  upon  these  points,  but  to  teach  us 
what  we  shall  do  to  bring  our  influence  to  bear  upon  the  church  and 
the  world,  to  put  a  stop  to  this  desecration  of  the  Sabbath. 

We  might  go  on  and  relate  very  interesting  incidents  connected 
with  this  subject ;  and  thus  occupy  the  whole  time  of  the  Convention. 
My  friend  from  Cleveland  might  have  given  an  instructive  and  in- 
teresting history  of  his  efforts  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  when  he 
brought  his  influence  to  bear  upon  the  keepers  of  ware-houses  to  in- 
duce  them  to  shut  tiieir  houses  on  the  Sabbath.  There  was  one  man, 
an  infidel,  who  declared  that  he  would  continue  to  work  on  the  Sab- 
bath ;  and  he  did  so.  That  man  was  then  worth  half  a  million;  and 
he  was  the  first  to  take  the  benefit  of  the  insolvent  act  in  the  United 
States.  All  these  things  show  how  the  providences  of  God  reach 
man  in  his  daily,  business.  You  need  not  ask  a  traveller  in  the  far 
West,  what  are  the  indications  in  any  neighborhood  that  the  Sabbath 
is  kept :  the  very  atmosphere  indicates  it.  I  will  refer  to  one  in- 
stance, at  the  Iron  Mountain  of  the  South- Western  corner  of  Missouri. 
When  I  was  travelling  there,  I  came  across  a  little  valley  village, 
full  of  quiet  and  beautiful  order.  Every  man  was  a  supporter  of.the 
Sabbath-school,  and  went  to  church  ;  and  there  was  no  need  that  any 
one  who  should  once  see  the  place,  should  ask  whether  the  Sabbath 
was  kept  there  or  not.  Five  miles  distant,  there  was  a  distiller  ;  and 
no  man  need  ask  there,  either,  if  the  Sabbath  was  kept.  There  was 
no  rest,  no  peace,  no  prosperity. 

1  have  had  some  experience  among  men,  and  in  markmg  the  ef- 
fect of  the  influences  which  usually  affect  their  actions  ;  and  I  know 
that  we  must  have  a  point  to  begin  at.  Unless  the  church  is  ready 
for  this  movement,  this  practical  effort,  the  Convention  may  as  well 
adjourn  and  go  home.  The  church  only  can  do  it,  and  the  church 
only  ought  to  do  it  ;  for  it  is  she  alone  that  reaps  the  full  benefit  of 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  As  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  her 
members  must  buckle  on  their  armor  and  enlist  in  this  fight.  If  not 
they,  who  is  to  do  it  ?  Let  us  inquire  if  the  church  is  ready  for  the 
work.     Are  her  ministers  ready  ?     Let  them  ask  themselves — and 


33 

Thfiso  remarks  Dr.  Fakee  makes  simply  as  a  physician.  I  do  not 
wish  to  detain  the  Convention  lonn;er,  nor  should  [  have  done  so  so 
long,  l)ut  for  m}'  desire  that  this  testimony  might  be  as  widely  spread 
as  possible. 

Rev.  Mr.  Beeciier,  of  Ratavia,  said  that  there  was  one  remark 
which  he  would  like  to  add  to  what  liad  been  said  upon  this  subject. 
He  wished  to  allude  to  the  peculiarly  excitable  character  of  the 
American  nation.  The  very  natural  scenery  of  the  country — its 
mountains,  its  mines,  and  its  whole  character,  are  calculated  to  make 
the  American  mind  move  with  steam-like  rapidity.  This  is  natural 
and  unavoidable.  It  has  occasional  stops,  hut  it  soon  moves  on  again 
with  increased  rapidity.  Now,  just  in  proportion  to  this  excitement, 
is  the  physical  system  worn  out  and  taxed.  This  influence  is  great- 
er in  this  country,  than  in  Europe;  for  in  those  nations  of  the  old 
world  every  thing  moves  on  with  its  old-fashioned  pace.  But  in  this 
country,  every  thine  goes  hj  steam — and  the  faster  the  better ;  our 
people  would  want  to  whip  vp.  on  a  streak  of  lightning  ! 

Now,  the  Sabbath  comes  in,  and  brings  new  thoughts  and  influen- 
ces— soothing  to  the  mind  ;  it  calms  all  excitement,  and  with  its  sa- 
cred stillness,  brings  a  holy  rest  to  the  soul.  Now,  this  influence  is 
needed  in  this  country,  more  than  in  any  other.  We  need  that  one 
day  in  seven  ;  the  excitement  which  is  so  high  on  every  other  day, 
should  be  cooled  ;  that  the  fever  of  the  chase  after  wealth,  honors,  or 
other  objects  of  worldly  ambition,  should  be  calmed  by  the  soft  and 
gentle  influences  of  this  holy  day. 

Dr.  Edwards,  of  Andover.  wished  to  add  a  single  thought,  which 
would  show  still  more  clearly,' the  wonderful  adaptation  of  the  Sab- 
bath to  the  wants  of  man.  Even  after  reason  and  intellect  are  un- 
balanced, and  when  it  is  necessary  for  the  subject  of  such  affliction 
to  be  confined  to  the  public  charities  the  gospel  has  provided,  where 
we  may  be  treated  kindly,  one  of  the  most  efficient  medicines  which 
can  be  administered,  has  been  found  to  be  the  observance  of  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath,  and  its  public  worship.  So  that  a  very  intelligent,  but 
rather  skeptical,  philosophic  physician,  who  had  some  doubts  whether 
the  gospel  were  really  true — and  whether  the  Sabbath  were  indeed  a 
divine  institution,  had  his  doubts  removed  when  he  came  to  find  how 
exactly  adapted  it  was  to  man — not  to  the  moral  man  merely,  but 
even  to  the  intellectual  wreck — how  fitted  it  was  to  bind  up  the  brok- 
en-hearted, and  to  bring  deliverance  to  the  captive  ;  all  his  hesitation 
was  swept  away,  and  he  was  forced  to  confess  that  the  Sabbath  must 
be  fiom  God.  So  wonderfully  was  it  adapted,  not  only  to  the  healthy, 
but  to  the  sick.  Every  where,  and  in  all  circumstances,  the  Sabbath 
is  like  the  balm  of  Gilead — provided  by  the  Great  Physician  for  the 
healing  of  the  nations. 

Rev.  Mr.  Church,  of  Rochester,  wished  to  make  a  single  sugges- 
tion  with  reference  to  this  subject.  What  adapts  the  Sabbath  so  ex- 
actly to  the  nature  of  man,  is  the  regularity  and  the  character  of  its 
rest.  Every  nation  on  earth  enjoys  its  rest  from  labor  ;  but  it  is  not 
always  regular — it  is  only  occasional.  But  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath 
comes  like  the  succession  of  day  and  night.  The  first  day  of  the 
week  comes  with  its  regular  cessation  from  labor,  and  brings  with  it 
3 


31 

a  periodical  rest  from  all  harassing  thoughts.  Then  look  at  the  Tia- 
ture  of  the  rest  it  affords.  All  nations,  as  I  said,  have  their  seasons 
of  relaxation  ;  but  in  most,  they  are  given  up  to  amusements  of  some 
sort — to  pleasures  more  deleterious  to  the  system,  than  the  daily  toil 
of  the  week.  But  the  Sabbath  teaches  us  to  devote  the  day  to  a  rest 
salutary  to  the  mind  and  to  the  moral  feelings.  The  bodily  frame, 
in  order  to  its  physical  health,  not  only  needs  a  relaxation  from  ac- 
tual  toil,  but  it  requires  the  healing  influence  of  holy  thoughts  ;  and 
in  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  it  finds  all  these  wants  supplied. 

Rev.  Mr.WisNER,  of  Ithaca,  said  that  he  wished  to  make  a  remark 
on  one  point  which  had  been  overlooked — the  influence  of  the  Sabbath 
on  the  sick.  He  had  been  a  good  deal  among  the  sick,  and  had  often 
seen  that  in  large  villages  and  cities,  during  the  six  days  of  the  week, 
they  enjoyed  no  rest  or  quiet,  by  reason  of  the  incessant  noise — the 
rattling  of  carriages  over  the  pavements,  and  the  hallooing  which  was 
universally  prevalent :  they,  therefore,  would  prize  most  highly  the 
rest  of  the  Sabbath,  when  all  was  still  and  quiet.  Mr.  W.  had 
no  hesitation  in  saying  that  he  believed,  imperfectly  as  the  Sabbath 
is  now  observed,  that  multitudes  of  valuable  lives  had  been  saved  by 
it — which  would  have  been  sacrificed,  had  there  been  no  such  rest. 
He  only  adverted  to  the  circumstance,  that  it  might  not  be  lost — that 
it  might  not  want  a  place  in  the  minds  of  all,  as  an  important  consid- 
eration in  favor  of  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  Blot  out  the  Sab- 
bath,  and  you  blot  out  the  only  day  of  rest  and  quiet  ever  enjoyed  in 
a  commercial  city. 

Rev.  Tryon  Edwards,  of  Rochester,  would  only  advert  to  one  fact. 
The  celebrated  Earl  of  Chatham,  while  Cabinet  Minister,  transacted 
as  much  business  on  Sunday,  as  on  any  other  day  of  the  M'eek.  The 
physican  who  attended  him  before  his  death,  and  who  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  his  personal  habits,  expressed  the  opinion  that  his  life 
was  shortened  niany  years  by  his  constant  mental  exertions.  He 
died  the  victim  of  the  violated  laws  of  his  own  physical  constitution 
— the  victim  of  Sabbath-breaking!  A  gentleman  of  iSew-York  had 
informed  him  that  of  fourteen  young  men  in  that  city,  who  were  Sab- 
bath-breakers, thirteen  became  int-  mperate.  Thus  has  God  bound 
one  sin  to  another,  as  links  in  the  chain  of  moral  death,  and  all  sin  to 
ruin  !  He  would  also  add,  although  not  immediately  bearing  on  this 
resolution,  that  it  had  been  publicly  stated  by  a  meichant  of  very 
high  standing,  that  he  had  particularly  noticed  that  those  merchants 
in  New- York,  who  kept  their  counting-rooms  open  on  the  Sabbath, 
during  his  residence  there,  (twenty-five  years)  had  failpd,  without  an 
exception.  Thus  does  God  in  his  providence,  frown  on  those  who 
violate  his  laws,  and  disregard  his  Sabbath. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  resolution,  and  it  was  unani- 
mously adopted.     The  Convention  then  adjourned. 

Thursday,  8^  o'clock,  A.  M. 

The  Convention  again  assembled,  and  was  opened  by  prayer  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Wisner,  of  Ithaca. 

The  journal  of  the  preceding  day  was  read  by  one  of  the  Secreta- 
ries. 


39 

on  the  Sabbath,  his  health  is  jrff'atly  improved.  Now  here  is  one  of 
the  inalienable  rights  of  the  laboring  man,  so  benr-ficial  to  him  in 
every  respect,  taken  from  him  by  his  employer  ;  and  the  first  conse- 
quence is  that  his  health  is  severely  impaired. 

But  there  is  another  result.  His  mind — his  intellectual  faculties 
are  impaired  by  being  deprived  of  re.st  on  the  Sabbath.  Nor  is  this 
all — nor  tbe  Avost.  His  inoral  powers  are  seriously  injured.  But 
I  do  not  moan  to  dwell  upon  tliis  part  of  the  suljjecf. 

Now  what  is  the  result  of  this  infraction  of  the  inalienable  rights 
of  the  laboring  man  upon  his  social  and  his  domestic  privilege?  lie 
is  utterly  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  enjoying  his  domestic  comforts 
with  bis  family.  For  when  can  the  labonng  man  go  to  the  bosom  of 
his  household,  and  there  enjoy  its  blessings?  Only  on  the  Sabl)alii: 
during  every  other  day  in  the  week  be  is  at  hard  laijor ;  at  night  his 
wearied  frame  needs  refreshment  and  repose.  And  when  you  take 
the  Sabbath  from  him,  you  take  the  dearest  enjoyments  of  his  life, 
and  all  his  social  blessings.  Here  then  the  man  who  desecrates  the 
Sabbath,  deprives  the  laboring  man  of  health,  of  intellectual  vigor, 
of  moral  purity,  and  <'f  all  his  dearest  and  most  cherished  comforts. 
Is  this  to  be  tolerated  ?  Look  at  the  representations  we  had  yester- 
day  from  the  boatmen — tho  sailors!  H(  ar  hov.'  loudly  they  com- 
plain! and  what  would  be  the  result  should  tl)ey  assert  their  riglits? 
Two  crews  were  dismissed  because  they  would  not  violate  God's 
commands,  and  surrender  one  of  their  dearest  inalienable  rights.  It 
is  a  kind  of  cruelty  and  despotism  on  the  part  of  the  employe7-s, 
which  the  laboring  class  have  a  right  to  frown  down  and  resist  to  the 
life,  if  necessary. 

Permit  me  to  advert  to  one  fact,  which  shows  how  men,  who  have 
a  high  sense  of  honor,  even  though  they  be  wicked  men,  regard  this 
matter.  It  has  l)een  my  privilege,  for  about  two  yeare,  to  live  in  St. 
Louis.  When  I  went  there,  I  expected  to  find  it  a  very  wicked 
place ;  and  though  I  did  find  a  great  deal  of  wickedness,  I  often 
made  the  remark  that  there  was  no  meanness  there.  A  mean  man 
can't  live  in  St.  Louis.  He  will  at  once  be  called  a  picar/uiie  man, 
and  then  he  may  as  well  leave  that  city.  Now  you  will  never  hear 
a  captain  there  tell  his  men  to  load  or  unload  a  boat  on  the  Sabbath  ; 
and  why  ?  Not  because  they  have  any  religious  scruples.  But  the 
very  vilest  of  them  would  despise  it,  Sir,  as  an  act  of  mcann'^ss. 
They  maintain  that  the  laborers  have  as  good  a  right  to  the  rest  of 
the  Sabbath,  as  they  have  themselves;  and  they  will  resent  it  as  an 
insult,  if  you  ask  them  why  they  do  not  require  their  men  to  labor 
on  the  Sabbath.  This  shows  how  a  noble  and  high-minded  people, 
even  though  uifluenced  by  no  regard  for  religion,  look  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  retjuiring  their  laboring  men  to  work  upon  the  Sabbath.  I 
wish  the  laborers  at  the  North,  would  give  their  employers  to  under- 
stand that  it  was  not  onlv  wicked,  but  mean  and  contemptible,  to  ask 
thorn  to  labor  on  the  Sabbath ;  and  rise  up  and  refuse  obedience. 
I  know  there  are  great  dilheulties  in  the  way.  I  know  that  many 
of  them  would  lose  their  employment,  and  would  thus  be  unable  to 
procure  bread  for  their  families.  And  I  wish,  therefore,  that  society 
would  take  hold  of  the  matter.     Every  man  ought  to  lift  up  his  voice 


40 

against  this  system  of  oppression  which  is  practiced  upon  the  labor- 
ing man. 

It  is  with  shanne  and  regret  that  I  am  obliged  to  say,  that  the 
government  of  my  country  requires  its  laborers  to  work  on  the  Sab- 
bath. Yes,  the  men  at  the  head  of  the  Post-Office  department,  tell 
their  laborers  plainly,  that  they  cannot  be  allowed  to  serve  their 
country  unless  they  violate  a  command  of  God,  and  give  up  one  of 
their  dearest  inalienable  rights.  Virtually,  the  first  question,  to  an 
applicant  for  the  post-office  is,  are  you  willing  to  give  up  this  right 
to  rest  on  the  Sabbath  ?  If  they  answer  no !  then  they  will  not  do 
for  the  service  of  their  country.  They  must  be  slaves  seven  days 
in  the  week  instead,  of  six.  Here  is  one  of  the  most  oppressive  acts 
of  which  any  government  was  ever  guilty.  I  wish  that  the  Conven- 
tion  would  look  at  this  subject  and  do  what  it  can,  as  this  resolution 
contemplates,  to  arouse  a  sense  of  independence  and  self-respect  on 
this  subject,  in  the  minds  of  the  laboring  class.  It  seems  to  me,  if 
we  could  speak  to  government  respectfully  on  this  point,  and  let 
them  see  what  we  are  doing — for  I  am  satisfied  that  they  do  not 
clearly  understand  how  the  country  regards  the  matter — we  shall 
avail  something.  They  tell  us,  to  be  sure,  that  we  need  not  accept 
office.  True :  but  we  are  put  upon  this  dilemma — either  to  be  dis- 
qualified for  office,  or  to  surrender  one  of  our  inalienble  rights,  and 
desecrate  the  Sabbath.  One  or  the  other  we  must  do.  Just  so,  says 
the  employer  on  the  rail-road  or  the  canal-boat:  We  do  not  compel 
you  to  work  for  us  :  but  if  you  do,  you  must  labor  on  the  Sabbath. 
Just  so  say  the  managers  of  the  English  factories,  to  the  parents  of 
the  children  upon  whom  they  practice  such  horrid  oppression.  "You 
need  not  send  your  children  here  unless  you  are  willing  they  should 
work  fourteen  hours  in  a  day.  You  have  your  choice."  Yesl  they 
have  the  choice  either  to  let  the  children  starve  at  home,  or  be  killed 
at  a  factory!  This  is  the  same  liberty  as  our  laboring  classes  enjoy 
with  regard  to  rest  on  the  Sabbath. 

Mr.  HicKoK,  of  BulTalo,  said  it  was  with  no  ordinary  feeling  that 
he  arose  to  ar'dress  the  assembly  on  that  subject,  which  had  long 
dwelt  upon  his  mind.  He  felt,  that  at  this  time,  as  a  people,  this 
country  was  receiving  the  just  judgments  of  Almighty  God,  for 
desecrating  the  Sabbath;  and  as  has  been  already  hinted,  the  judg- 
ment falls  where  the  sin  commenced — at  the  very  head  of  the  govern- 
ment— at  what  should  be  the  fountain  of  wisdom  and  justice.  My 
belief  is,  said  he,  that  the  requirements  of  God's  holy  word  are  bind- 
ing  on  all  people  and  all  nations,  and  that  they  will  be  so  as  long  as 
God  rules — and  no  other  power  can  add  one  iota  to  their  force.  And 
now,  if  gentlemen  will  take  the  word  of  God,  and  read  the  denuncia- 
tions there  written  against  those  who  desecrate  the  Sabbath;  and  if 
they  will  in  their  hearts  believe  that  it  is  God  who  pronounces  them, 
I  do  not  believe  that  it  will  be  necessaiy  to  say  any  thing  more.  If 
Chri>tians  will  only  read  the  denunciations  in  the  word  of  God,  and 
believe  that  God  is  righteous,  they  will  need  no  argument  on  this 
subject  to  bring  them  to  a  conviction  of  their  duty,  and  to  see  that 
it  is  only  necessary  to  keep  the  commands  of  God,  for  happiness  ia 
this  world,  and  in  tlic  world  to  come. 


37 

they  may  as  well  do  it  now.  Arc  they  resolute  enoiiph  to  take  hold 
of  it  in  earnest  ?  Let  each  minister  ask  himself  if  he  is  ready  ?  Why, 
he  hopes  he  is.  Well,  what  have  you  do7ic — what  wi/l  you  do  ?  Will 
you  place  the  subject  before  your  congregation,  and  induce  them  to 
exert  I  heir  inniience  upon  this  subject  ? 

But  how  shall  that  influence  be  directed?  Will  you  support  a 
*'  Six  Day  Line,"  and  will  you  carry  it  out  ?  This  man  who  has 
started  it,  has  great  competition — will  you  help  him  suslain  it  ?  Will 
you  bear  part  of  his  l<3ss  ?  VV'ill  you  forward  your  goods  from  Ro- 
chester to  New- York,  by  that  line  only  ;  and  will  you  give  to  it  all 
your  support  ?  Will  you  pledge  yourselves  not  to  travel  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  nor  to  support  a  line  that  does?  You  need  enter  into 
no  combination  against  others  ;  but  will  you  honestly  give  them  the 
preference,  under  the  fear  of  God  ?  Unless  you  do  all,  your  other 
efforts  will  be  unavailing.  If  you  are  travelling,  will  you  put  your- 
selves to  a  little  inconvenience,  to  travel  by  a  "Six  Day  Line?" 
Will  you  advise  others  to  do  it — not  coldly,  but  press  it  as  a  solemn 
duty  ?  Will  you  make  the  greatest  possible  efforts  to  induce  stock- 
holders in  canals  and  steam-boats,  and  in  rail-roads,  to  abstain  from 
Sabbalh  labor  ?  Will  you  press  the  subject,  as  it  will  appear  to  you 
at  the  Day  of  Judgment?  Will  you  make  it  a  matter  of  church 
conference  and  church  supplication  for  almighty  aid  ? 

These  are  ordy  glances  at  the  practical  efibrts  that  must  be  made  ; 
but  I  wish  the  matter  to  come  up  distinctly  before  the  Convention. 

It  would  be  exceeding  delightful  to  go  on  with  these  general  dis- 
cussions ;  but  we  must  come  to  some  practical  point.  The  commands 
of  God  are  plain  on  the  subject :  we  wish  to  awaken  a  sense  of  re- 
Bponsibility,  to  devise  a  plan  for  active  exertion,  and  to  know  what  is 
practicable  and  wise,  for  we  are  not  at  all  in  the  dark,  as  to  what  is 
rigid. 

But  I  have  already  occupied  more  time  than  I  intended. 

Rev.  Mr.  WisNEK,  of  Itha  a,  approved  of  these  sentiments,  but 
thought  the  discussion  was  becoming  too  desultory. 

The  Prksidknt  said  that  the  debate  was  not  in  order,  as  there  was 
no  resolution  before  the  house. 

Jt'DGE  W1LKE.S0N  said  that  he  intended  when  he  rose,  to  call  up  the 
next  resolution,  but  he  had  forgotten  it. 

The  fifth  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

5.  Resolved,  'I'hat,  without  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  the  high- 
est and  most  i>crmarien'  bodily  health  and  mental  vigor,  the  greatest 
intellectual  elevation,  moral  purity,  and  social  enjoyment,  can  never 
be  obtained. 

The  question  being  taken  upon  this  resolution,  it  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

The  sfxth  resolution,  as  follows,  was  then  read  : 

6.  Rcsohrd,  That  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  essential  to  the 
highest  and  most  permanent  pecuniary  interests  of  a  people,  as  well 
as  to  the  purity  and  permanence  of  free  institutions  ;  and  that  the 
violation  of  it  is  injurious  to  men  in  this  world,  as  really  as  in  the 
world  to  come. 

The  question  being  taken,  this  resolution  was  also  unanimously 
adopted. 


38 

The  seventh  resolution  was  then  read  :  '~**  '^' 

7.  Resolved,  That  as  free  institutions  cannot  be  mainfainrd  and 
rendered  blessings,  without  intelligence  and  virtue  among  the  i  (  ople  ; 
and  as  these  cannot  be  secured  without  the  observance  of  the  Salbath, 
no  enlightened  friend  of  such  institutions  will  knowingly  allow  him- 
self to  trample  on  the  sanctity  of  that  holy  day. 

And  on  taking  the  question,  this  also  was  unanimously  auon'.ed. 
The  eighth  resolution  was  then  n  ad,  as  follows: 

8.  Resolved,  That,  as  the  duty  and  utility  of  remembering  I  In  Sab- 
bath day  and  keeping  it  holy,  are  not  only  inculcated  abunrlanily  in 
the  Bible,  but  are  also  often,  in  the  courre  of  Providence,  strikingly 
illustrated  by  facts  ;  all  who  become  acquainted  with  such  fac  is,  are 
requested  to  cause  them  to  be  published  and  circulated  as  extentiively 
as  possible. 

This  resolution  v^as  also  adopted  unanimously. 
The  nhifh  resolution  was  tlien  read  : 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  ri^ht,  as 
well  as  the  privilege  and  duty,  of  all  classes  in  the  community  :  and 
the  blessings  of  it  were  designed  by  its  divine  Author,  to  cx'i  nd  to 
the  laboring  animals;  and  that  the  requiring  of  either  man  or  beast 
to  labor  on  that  day  for  the  purpose  of  pecuniary  gain,  is  gross  in- 
justice toward  the  one  and  great  cruelty  toward  the  oth^r;  and  it 
ought  to  be  abandoned  throughout  the  Christian  world. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wjsner,  of  Ithaca,  said  that,  under  leave,  he  would  like 
to  make  a  few  remarks  u  pen  j  ait  of  fl^is  resoltion.  As  he  did  not 
intend  to  trespass  upon  the  rule,  he  should  speak  only  of  a  single 
point — the  inalienable  right  of  the  laboring  class  to  enjoy  the  n  st  of 
the  Sabbath.  It  is  a  point,  Sir,  he  said,  upon-  which  my  mind  has 
long  dwelt.  I  consider  every  man  as  enjoying  the  right  to  keep  the 
Sabbath.  It  is  a  right  which  God  has  given  him,  and  no  man  can 
infringe  upon  that  right  without  cruelty  and  injustice.  Look,  Sir,  at 
the  laboring  class  of  community.  It  is  true,  in  the  Piovidcnce  of 
God,  and  it  always  will  be  true,  that  in  community  there  is  ore  class 
of  employers  and  another  of  employed.  There  has  always  been  in 
every  country  a  class  of  laborers,  men  who  are  dependent  for  their 
subsistence  upon  their  employers.  Now  the  question  is,  shall  these 
men  be  deprived  of  the  privilege  which  their  employers  enjoy,  of 
resting  on  the  Sabbaih  ?  That  is  the  question,  to  my  mind.  The 
•employer  can  sit  at  his  ease  in  his  parlor  and  keep  his  men  at  work, 
mnd  there  keep  the  Sabbath  himself,  while  all  his  men  are  at  work 
upon  that  day.  But  is  he  not  depriving  them  of  a  privilege  which 
he  is  enjoying  himself?  And  where  is  his  authority  for  depiiving 
■'th  ^m  of  that  privilege  ?  Look  at  the  evils  which  result  to  lie  labor- 
'.•ang  man,  from  his  being  forced  to  labor  on  the  Sabbath.  In  the  first 
place,  his  health  is  impaired.  And  here  let  me  advert  to  a  fact 
"which  confirms  the  position  taken  by  a  preceding  resolution.  It  has 
been  observed  that  men  who  are  sent  to  our  State-prisons  with  bro- 
ken health,  almost  always  come  out  with  health  greatly  improved. 
Now  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that  one  of  the  principal  reasons  of  this 
is,  that  in  the  State-prison  every  prisoner  enjoys  the  privilepts  of 
the  Sabbath.     He  is  forced  to  labor  six  days ;  and  yet,  by  rt  sting 


43 

pournl  upon  our  land,  have  more  or  less  lo  do  wifli  the  violation  or 
obsorv.'.nco  of  the  Sahhath  day.  Look  over  the  land  to-day  :  look 
at  the  tKyltitudcs  of  failures  and  disasters  wiiich  spread  from  on^  end 
of  the  land  to  the  other.  Who  has  failed  ?  Who  has  botn  aldt;  to 
keep  the  money  he  has  mad(f?  I  call  attention  to  it  ;  for  I  Lf  heve 
the  matter  will  bear  investigation.  Of  the  few  who  have  noi  failed, 
a  ijreat  proportion  have  been  of  those  who  did  not  make  their  money 
by  Sabbath  breakin": ;  and  of  those  who  have  failed,  a  larije  propor- 
tion have  been  of  those  who  haifc  been  engaged  in  the  violations  of 
the  Sabbath.  Look  around  our  country — upon  the  whole  Icngih  of 
our  canals — at  our  forwarders  and  millers,  and  business  men  :  «ind  I 
aver  that  the  truth  will  show  my  statement  to  be  true  ;  and  that 
God  is  the  God  of  the  Sabbath,  to-day,  as  he  has  ever  been  ;  and 
the  reason  why  the  fact  does  not  stand  ou*  as  clearly  in  our  history, 
as  it  does  in  that  of  the  Jews,  is  because  our  history  does  n^t  crowd  a 
hundred  years  into  a  short  space  as  the  Bible  does;  for  in  that  we 
read  the  history  of  a  whole  generation,  and  the  result  is  jriven 
at  once.  Not  so  with  us.  We  see  men  living  in  violation  of  God's 
law.  By-and-by,  one  after  another  goes  by  the  board,  and  if  we 
could  see  the  connection  so  clearly  as  it  is  laid  down  in  the  history 
of  the  Jews,  we  should  see  the  same  result.  I  ask  for  an  investiga- 
tion of  this  matter;  as  it  is  one  which  I  have  studied  with  some  care, 
for  the  last  two  years. 

The  resolution  sets  forth  the  rights  of  the  laboring  man,  with  regard 
to  the  Sabbath.  Now,  Sir,  I  am  a  laboring  n>an  myself — and  1  hold 
the  sentiment  of  the  resolution  to  be  true.  I  say,  Sir,  that  there  is  not 
a  more  intolerable  slavery  under  heaven,  than  that  which  is  now 
practiced,  in  enforcing  labor  on  the  Sabbath-day.  I  ask  again,  how 
much  is  the  Bible  believed  ?  That  faith  which  docs  not  control  the 
practice  of  men,  amounts  to  nothing.  Who  would  dare,  if  he  believed 
in  the  retributions  of  God,  a?ainst  those  who  violate  his  Sabbaths, 
desecrate  it  as  is  now  almost  universally  done.  I  say  it  is  not  be- 
lieved. The  man  who  believes  it,  will  not  do  it.  He  will  not  hope 
to  prosper  in  any  such  course  of  conduct.  It  will  curse  any  man, 
and  it  will  curse  his  posterity. 

It  has  been  shown  already  how  necessary  are  rest  and  refreshment, 
and  the  opportunity  of  cultivating  the  intellectual  and  moral  nature 
of  man.  Of  all  these  are  laboring  men  now  deprived.  Yes,  ihey 
arc  subjected  to  a  slavery  more  intolerable  than  that  at  the  South  ; 
for  there  the  slaves  are  allowed  to  spend  the  Sabbath  in  their  own 
way,  and  to  work  for  themselves,  at  least.  But  these  men  have  no 
Sabbaths.  They  are  trodden  to  the  earth  ;  and  if  they  only  know 
their  power,  they  would  never  submit  to  their  present  degradation. 
It  is  entirely  contrary  to  the  doctrine  of  equal  rights — guaranteed  to 
all  men  by  our  common  Constitution  and  laws.  The  usages  of  so. 
ciety  wrest  from  man  the  rights  of  the  Sabbath  which  the  God  of  na- 
ture has  given  him.  But  this  is  sanctioned  by  high  examples  ;  and 
so  long  as  these  exist,  they  will  be  copied.  Just  look  at  the  exam- 
ples. I  do  not  now  refer  to  the  regulations  of  the  Po.st-office  Dei  art- 
ment,  which  compel  a  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  :  but  look  at  our 
own  State  laws,  which  forbid  labor  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  yet,  on  our 


44 

canals,  from  one  end  to  the  other,  men  are  compelled,  by  the  usages 
of  society,  to  lab'^r  on  that  day,  in  direct  violation  of  the  laws  ;  and 
no  man  need  apply  for  the  office  of  lock-tender,  or  collector,  who  does 
not  expect,  on  every  Sabbath  day,  to  violate  the  express  language  of 
the  statutes.  Look  at  the  influeice  of  this.  It  not  only  exerts  a  de- 
moral. zing  influence  on  them,  but  it  sets  the  example  to  all  men  to 
violate  the  statutes  with  impunity.  One  portion  of  our  official  digni- 
tarie  ■,  ac:s  directly  in  opposition  to  the  interests  of  all  our  citizens. 
And  why,  under  these  circumstances,  should  not  our  canals  furnish 
more  inmates  of  the  prisons  at  Auburn  and  Sing  Sing,  than  all  the 
rest  of  the  State  ?  Is  it  possible  to  bring  to  bear  upon  the  young  men 
of  the  T'ountry,  a  more  pernicious  influence  than  this  ? 

'i'here  is  another  idea  connected  with  this  subject.  I  hold  that  no 
individual  has  any  right  to  sell  his  labor  on  the  Sabbath.  If  the  Fab- 
bath  is  necessary  to  the  highest  happiness  of  every  individual,  'hea 
not  only  has  no  man  a  right  to  take  it  away,  but  no  man  has  more 
right  to  sell  it,  than  he  has  to  sell  his  life.  We  all  agree  that  no  men 
has  a  right  to  take  his  own  life.  Suicide  is  a  henious  sin  ;  and  if  it 
were  possible,  it  would  be  punished  as  murder.  I  hold  that  no  man 
has  a  right  to  sell  that  which  is  indispensable  to  his  health  and  hap- 
piness ;  and  any  man  who  purchases  that  right  from  another,  inflicts 
upon  him  the  greatest  injury.  Let  us,  for  a  moment,  see  the  opera- 
tion of  this  thing.  As  we  have  been  told  to-day,  this  Sabbath  labor 
is  perfectly  unequal  :  it  violates  the  first  principle  of  our  institutions 
— that  of  an  equality  of  rights.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  equal 
rights,  in  the  present  usages  of  society.  Take  the  line  of  rail-road 
from  this  city  to  Albany.  Inquire  what  is  the  number  of  persons 
who  travel  on  that  road,  on  any  given  Sabbath  day ;  and  then  find 
what  number  of  persons  are  engaged  one  way  and  another,  in  pro- 
viding for  them — at  public  houses,  stopping  places,  die. :  see  how 
many  are  deprived  of  the  privileges  and  enjoyments  of  the  Sabbath, 
for  their  accommodation ;  and  I'll  venture  to  say,  that  their  number 
is  twice  as  great  as  that  of  those  who  travel  on  that  day. 

[Mr.  Stark's  time  having  expired,  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  sub- 
ject unfinished.] 

Mr.  Shephbrd,  of  Buffalo,  said  that  the  resolution  spoke  of  the 
right  to  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath,  as  guaranteed,  not  only  to  our  fel- 
low-men, but  to  animals.  It  brought  to  his  mind  a  fact  which  oc- 
curred in  Vermont,  not  many  years  ago.  A  neighbor  of  his  was  en- 
gaged in  an  iron-foundry — young  and  ambitious,  and  determined  to 
becoma  rich  immediately.  In  his  haste  to  amass  wealth,  he  kept  his 
firas  burning,  and  his  teams  and  his  laborers  at  work  Sundays,  as  on 
other  days.  His  friends  remonstrated,  and  urged  him  to  desist. 
"Bat,"  said  he,  "I  can't  make  iron,  unless  I  keep  my  fires  burning 
all  the  while."  "Well,"  said  they,  "at  least,  let  your  horses  and 
men  rest."  No,  he  would  not  :  he  wanted  to  get  rich.  They  re- 
minded  him  that  God  might  not  prosper  his  business,  if  he  persisted 
in  violating  his  commands.  Bat  all  this  did  not  move  him  :  he  kept 
on  working  seven  days,  instead  of  six.  This  was  in  the  spring;  and 
before  winter  came,  his  teams  were  like  the  lean  kine  of  Egypt 
— ^i^oor,  miserable  beasts,  scarcely  able  to  walk.     His   men  were 


41 

I  have  lived  in  tliis  country  over  thirty  years.  I  saw  tlic  place 
whore  stands  this  proud  city,  when  it  was  nothinjf  hut  a  wilderness — 
when  there  was  no  sound  heard  hut  the  howling  of  tlie  wolf  and  the 
cry  of  the  Indian.  Now  look  upon  it,  and  see  what  God  lias 
wrought!  No  man  can  look  upon  these  things  and  not  feel  that  we 
owe  a  mighty  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  Almighty,  for  the  blessings  he 
has,  in  such  profusion,  showered  upon  us.  He  has  blessed  us  more 
than  any  people  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  But,  Sir,  do  we  verily 
believe  that  the  evils  which  afflict  this  country,  are  judgments  from 
the  hand  of  God  ?  Who  can  witness  the  avalanche  that  has  gone 
over  the  land — the  scenes  of  1836 — in  which  every  man,  Christian 
or  not,  was,  to  some  exten%  afit^cted  ;  when  every  one  hasted  to  be 
rich,  and  built  castles  in  the  air — so  soon  to  be  demolished  ;  and  not 
feel  that  the  hand  of  God  is  in  the  world  ? 

I  became  intoxicated  with  the  rest  of  my  courtrymen,  when  I  saw 
all  around  me  growing  rich  so  fast.  I  embarked  in  the  same 
schemes,  and  felt  as  if  I  had  increased  my  stores  ;  and  said,  with 
the  man  of  whom  we  read  in  scripture,  '*  I  will  pull  down  my  barns 
and  build  greater."  I  thought  th(  n  that  I  would  be  lilKra! — that 
I  would  use  my  money  for  advancing  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  to 
build  churches,  and  aid  tiie  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day.  But 
God  taught  me  that  my  property  was  not  my  own.  I  did  not  bring 
it  all  into  the  store-house  of  the  Lord,  and  he  has  taught  me  a  lesson 
for  which  I  shall  ever  be  grateful.  1  rejoice  that  he  has  taught  me 
that  the  strength  of  the  Christian  is  not  in  the  multitude  of  horses  or 
of  chariots,  but  in  the  power  of  GofI — and  to  God  would  I  this  day 
give  all  the  glory.  Now,  if  we  will  with  one  heart  and  one  mind, 
come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  in  this  mighty  work,  God  will  bless 
us;  and  we  shall,  as  a  people,  dwell  in  the  high  places  of  our  God. 
God  has  promised  to  bless  all  who  will  keep  holy  his  Sabbaths;  and 
I  appeal  to  every  man  in  this  Christian  assembly,  who  has  ever 
made  on»^.  single  effort  in  the  cause  of  God,  for  which  the  Savior  came 
from  h?aven  to  earth,  if  he  has  not  found  manifold  truth  in  the  saying 
of  Christ,  that  "  no  man  hath  forsaken  father  or  mother,  or  houses  or 
lands,  but  he  shall  receive  in  this  life  a  hundred  fold,  and  in  the 
world  to  come,  life  everlasting."  I  well  remember  the  time  when  it 
wasa  common  saying,  that  the  Sabbath  never  crossed  over  the  Genesee 
river.  We  ^lad  none  of  its  privileges;  but  the*  efforts  of  Christians 
have  brought  about  a  great  change  in  this  respect.  But  I  appeal  to 
you  if  there  has  not  been,  for  years  past,  too  much  of  the  infidelity 
of  France,  spread  over  this  people — if  it  has  not  got  into  the  halls 
of  Congress — and  if  it  is  not  time  to  call  upon  this  people  to  repent 
before  God  shall  have  utterly  forsaken  them,  that  he  may  agian 
smile  upon  and  bless  us. 

I  do  not  wish  to  intrude  upon  the  time  of  the  Convention  ;  I  only 
wish  to  say  that  if  God  shall  give  me  life  and  energies,  I  hereby 
pledge  them  to  the  service  of  this  good  work ;  and  it  appears  to  me, 
that  this  is,  of  all  seasons,  the  most  appropriate  for  the  effort.  I 
would  say,  also,  with  my  friend  from  Buffalo,  (Prof.  Wilkeson)  that 
the  church  is  fearfully  behind  in  this  work.  The  laboring  classes 
of  our  community,  have  been  long  deprived  of  the  rights  and  privi- 


42 

leges  of  the  Sabbath  ;  a:nd  who  shall  aid  our  boatmen  and  sailors  to 
assert  their  rights  and  demand  a  retraction  of  their  privileges,  unless 
it  be  the  Christian  church  ? 

Mr.  Pearson,  of  Genesee  county,  said  he  should  confine  the  few 
remarks  he  had  to  make,  to  two  points.  The  first  was  the  importance 
of  the  Sabbath,  as  a  sign  between  God  and  his  people,  in  a  national 
light.  We  are  told,  in  the  Bible,  that  God  gave  his  people  the  Sab- 
bath to  be  a  sign  between  him  and  them.  But  we  see  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  disregarded  the  Sabbath,  just  as  our  nation  is  doing 
in  the  regulations  of  its  post-office  department,  which  belonofs  to  the 
whole  country,  and  may  appropriately  be  called  the  Inugs  of  the  na- 
tion. We  see  the  Sabba'h  polluted,  then,  at  the  fountain  ;  and  of 
course  all  the  streams  that  flow  from  it  will  be  corrupt  also.  He 
regarded  all  the  commercial  distress  whic  now  presides  ov^r  the 
land,  as  a  judgment  of  God  for  our  violation  of  his  Sabbaths.  Never 
before  have  embarrassments  in  every  department  of  industry  and  of 
business  been  so  general.  Men  may  attribute  this,  some  to  ore  po- 
litical casue,  and  others  to  another ;  but  he  saw  behind  all  these 
causes,  the  desecration  of  God's  holy  day,  as  the  chief  source  of  all 
our  calamities. 

The  other  point  to  which  he  wished  to  call  attention  was,  that  the 
children  of  Israel  signed  a  covenant,  pledging  themselves  to  observe 
the  Sabbath,  and  keep  the  commands  of  God.  Now  the  penalty  of 
their  disobedience  was  to  be  paid  by  their  children  ;  and  how  did 
they  suffer  for  it  ?  By  the  seventy  years  captivity  in  Babylon,  into 
which  thev  had  been  led,  that  the  land  might  enjoy  rest,  Now  if 
we  sufTer  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  to  go  on  unchecked,  we  may 
not  on!}'-  suffer  the  penalty  ourselves,  but  our  children  after  us,  may 
be  brought  into  suffering  by  it.  If,  then,  we  look  at  the  subject  with 
that  degree  of  concern  and  interest  which  it  merits,  we  shall,  as 
members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  as  patriots  and  philanthropists,  do  all 
that  we  can  to  stop  this  sin,  so  that  we  may  not  leave  it  to  our  chil- 
dren  to  pay  so  fearful  a  penalty  for  our  disobedience. 

Mr.  Starr,  of  Rochester,  said  that  the  Bible  had  been  quoted  ;  and 
he  believed  that  from  it  is  derived  all  the  knowledge  of  our  duties 
and  obligations  that  we  need.  If  we  yield  to  it  a  full  belief,  we 
shall  need  no  farther  argument  to  convince  us  of  the  course  it  is  pro- 
per to  pursue.  But,  said  he,  how  much  do  we  believe  it^  You  may 
see  it  by  its  influence  upon  our  conduct.  Denunciations  of  God  reach 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  that  book,  against  those  who  violate 
the  Sabbath-day.  But  who  regards  this?  Is  it  not  true  that  both 
priest  and  people  seem  to  regard  the  commandment  enjoining  the  ob- 
servance of  the  Sabbath,  as  somewhat  different  from  the  other  com- 
mands of  God — as  a  little  less  obligatory — that  it  does  not  mean  pre- 
cisely what  it  says?  For  who  that  really  believes  the  word  of  God, 
could  act  as  the  mass  of  men,  even  in  the  church,  do  act  ?  No  man, 
I  say,  can  fully  believe  the  word  of  God,  and  then  look  at  the  histo- 
ry of  the  past,  as  a  guide  to  the  future,  and  go  on  in  the  desecration 
of  the  Sabbath.  The  Jews,  we  are  expressly  told,  were  removed 
from  their  country,  that  the  land  might  have  rest  on  the  Sabbaths  of 
the  Lord.     It  has  been  more  than,  hinted  that  the  judgments  now 


4T 

the  subject,  the  question  arises,  whence  come  these  riijhts  ?  How 
can  it  be  saiil  that  any  given  thing  is  a  matter  of  light  ?  When  our 
fathers.  Mr.  President,  attem|)tccl  to  establish  a  government  for  this 
countiy,  they  sought  to  embotly  the  first  principles  of  the  riglits  allu- 
ded  U)  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  and  they  said  that  "all 
men  are  endowed  by  Ihcir  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights." 
This  is  the  source  of  all  rights — the  will  of  the  Creator.  And  since 
the  suggestion  has  been  made,  it  seems  to  me  that  I  can  take  the 
cause  of  the  stage-horse,  and  hold  up  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, and  prove  from  that  and  the  D(  calogue,  that  he,  too,  has  a  ri^ht 
to  rest  u[)en  the  Sabbath-day.  For  the  rights  spoken  of  in  that  De- 
claration, are  not  so  expressly  given  to  men,  as  is  this  right  given  to 
the  laboring  animal.  It  is  a  sacred  command  of  the  great  Law. giver, 
given  in  behalf  of  the  laboring  beast,  to  his  intelligent  master,  who  is 
capable  of  understanding  it.  Now  no  one  ever'  charged  the  author 
of  the  Declaration  of  Indt  pi^ndence  with  religious  enthusiasm  or  ul- 
traisin  ;  and  yet  he  said  that  all  rights  rest  in  the  will  of  the  great 
Lawgiver  ;  and  there  too  rests  the  right  of  aiiiinals  to  the  rest  of  the 
Sabbath. 

It  is  said  that  the  laws  do  not  require  men  to  labor  on  the  Sabbath. 
They  do  not  in  words;  but  do  they  not  virtually  ?  The  feelings  of 
men  should  be  respected.  The  laws  of  this  State  regard  the  senti- 
ments of  Quakers :  why  should  they  not  regard  those  of  religious 
men  upon  this  point  ?  Why  should  men  be  excluded  from  office,  if 
they  are  unwilling  to  violate  the  Sabbath  ? 

Rev.  Dr.  LucKEY,  of  Rochester,  said  the  gentleman  last  up,  had 
made  the  distinction  he  had  risen  to  make.  He  conceived  that  while 
rest  is  as  essential  to  professional  men  as  it  is  to  the  laboring  classes, 
there  is  a  difference  between  a  voluntary  and  a  constrained  breach 
of  the  Sabbath.  Professional  men  may  adjust  and  arrange  their  own 
business,  so  that  they  can  observe  the  Sabbath,  if  they  choose.  The 
resolution  looks  directly  to  the  question  of  right.  It  is  therefore  the 
grand  question  in  which  all  are  interested.  The  sovereignty  is  with 
the  people;  and  if  this  people  will  violate  the  Sabbath,  they  are  re- 
sponsible.  But  when  men  are  placed  where  they  are  constrained  to 
violate  the  sacred  day,  there  is  an  apology  for  them.  I  respect  the 
ap[)eal — I  will  say,  the  exhortation — of  my  friend  from  Buffalo 
(Judge  WiLKESON)  to  the  clergy.  I  know  his  zeal,  and  I  am  sure 
that  if  he  were  in  the  ministry,  transgressbrs  would  tremble  at  hia 
rebuke.  And  I  should  sincerely  approve  of  it,  if  he  should  carry  on 
his  well  tempered  zeal  in  this  cause.  But  if  he  had  been  thirty 
years  in  the  ministry,  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  he  would  have 
found  very  many  tender  cases  of  discipline,  if  he  should  attempt  to 
carry  it  out  as  he  proposed. 

Another  respected  friend  has  alluded  to  a  case  of  a  merchant  of 
influence  and  a  member  of  the  church,  placed  in  circumstances  in 
which,  in  a  sort,  he  was  obliged  to  violate  the  Sabbath.  I  mean  obli- 
ged  in  a  limited  sense :  his  circumstances  constrained  him  to  it. 
These  men  may  be  told,  we  do  not  compel  you  to  serve  us.  No : 
but  circumstances  constrain  them  to  serve  the  public  ;  and  if  there 
were  no  other  consideration,  that  of  right  should  induce  the  public 


'to  do  away  with  the  whole  difficulty,  to  remove  all  barriers  against 
freely  serving  the  public.  The  question  might  be  applied  to  many 
classes  of  our  citizens,  to  clerks,  store- keepers,  &c.  Suppose  mer- 
chants should  agree  to  disrespect  the  Sabbath.  The  clerks  must  at- 
tend to  their  business  on  that  day,  or  be  dismissed.  Now  is  it  not 
right  that  they  should  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  freedom 
from  labor,  the  same  as  other  citizens,  without  the  sacrifice  of  their 
places  ?  This  is  properly  a  question  of  political  right :  let  the  prac- 
tice be  tolerated  here,  and  soon  we  should  be  in  the  same  condition 
that  France  is  now  in.  A  traveller  writes  :  "  To-day  we  are  in  such 
a  city.  By  our  reckoning,  it  is  on  the  Sabbath  ;  but  al?  the  shops 
are  open,  and  there  is  no  appearance  of  the  Sabbath."  Let  the 
practice  be  tolerated  here,  and  soon  it  will  be  so  among  us.  What 
would  be  the  result  ?  Store-keepers  must  continue  their  business, 
and  must  entrust  it  to  persons  who  do  not  regard  the  Sabbath.  Is 
this  policy  ?  This  is  true,  already,  in  regard  to  many  things,  and,  I 
am  sorry  to  say,  in  regard  to  our  public  interests.  Upon  the  rail- 
roads and  canals,  in  which  the  State  has  an  interest,  the  servants  of 
the  public  must  break  the  Sabbath.  The  policy  tends  to  exclude  all 
faithful  men  from  that  service. 

Now  there  has  been  much  said  about  transferring  the  public  stocks 
of  our  state  works  to  private  associations.  Look  at  the  bearing 
of  this  question  in  view  of  such  a  measure.  Gentlemen  of  wealth 
are  solicited  to  become  stock-holders.  Those  who  thus  invest  their 
capital,  do  it  with  a  full  foresight,  that  the  power  of  management  is 
invested  in  the  companies,  and  here  they  are  liable  to  be  involved  in 
in  the  sin  of  breaking  the  Sabbath.  But  they  say  that  we  are 
not  responsille ;  they  are  members — but  they  can't  control  the  mat- 
ter. And  thus  conscientious  men  are  prevented  from  engaging  in 
such  enterprises,  and  the  whole  country  is  injured.  I  take  it  to  be  a 
just  rule,  that  a  moral  and  Christian  people  ought  so  to  arrange  the 
government  that  the  bt-st  men  may  fill  all  public  offices,  without  any 
violation  of  their  consciences  I  remember  somewhere  to  have  read, 
not  long  since,  an  anecdote  of  George  the  Third,  and  I  shall  never 
forget  it  though  I  may  not,  in  relating  it,  be  perfectly  accurate  in  its 
<letails  :  a  veteran,  who  had  been  worn  out  in  his  service,  was  recom- 
mended to  a  place  in  the  domestic  department  of  the  king  by  some 
lord.  He  toik  the  place,  and  when  the  Sabbath  came,  instead  of 
doing  the  service  as  the  others  did,  he  was  found  reading  his  Bible. 
The  superintendf  nt  went  to  him  and  asked  why  he  did  not  attend  to 
his  business.  He  sa-d  that  he  could  not  work  on  that  day,  whh  a 
clear  conscience.  He  was  severely  reprimanded — but  stuck  fast  to 
his  integrity.  The  lord,  who  recommnnded  him,  was  rebuked  ;  and 
finally,  the  old  man  was  dismissed.  He  wiped  his  eye,  as  he  retired, 
but  said  he  could  not  disobey  God.  The  tidings  came  to  the  king, 
who  ordered  him  to  be  immediately  restored  to  his  place,  saying, 
**  Let  him  remain  in  my  service  while  he  lives.  He  is  just  the  man 
I  yant.  Who  will  serve  his  king  better  than  he  who  dares  not  diso- 
b/y  God  ?"     This  is  precisely  the  principle  that  should  govern  us. 

One  other  thought.  If  the  practice  of  disregarding  the  Sabbath 
be  not  stopped  on  our  public  works,  whtn  will  it  end  ?     If  the  state 


45 

down-cast  and  cmaclatod  :  all  of  them  diseased,  and  apparently 
near  to  death.  And  within  a  single  year,  he  was  pronounced  a  bank- 
rupt. 

Mr.  S.  said  that  he  might  call  to  recollection  many  other  facts, 
8howing  that  the  right  of  animals  to  the  rest  of  the  Sahl)ath,  was  ne- 
cessary to  them  ;  and  that  man  could  not,  with  impunity,  infringe 
upon  their  rights,  any  more  than  he  could  sell  his  own.  In  this 
State,  a  few  years  ago,  he  fell  in  with  a  post-master,  at  a  place 
which  I  had  visited.  It  was  on  Saturday  ;  and  he  was  complaining 
bitterly  of  some  violation  of  the  Sabbath.  The  next  Sunday  I  spent 
at  his  house,  and  found  that  he  also  desecrated  the  Sabbath,  by  at- 
tending to  his  post-oHice  duties.  "How  is  this?"  said  I.  "  I  was 
greatly  interested  in  your  remarks  about  violating  the  Sabbath  ;  and 
yet  I  see  that  you  are  violating  it  yourself."  lie  said  that  he  had 
no  other  way  to  get  a  living;  and  for  a  long  while,  he  had  some 
doubts  about  the  matter,  and  had  gone  to  his  pastor  about  it,  who 
had  finally  advised  him  to  take  the  otfice  ;  and  other  ministers  in 
the  place  gave  him  the  same  .advice.  And  Hsten  to  the  logic  by 
which  they  convinced  him:  "If  you  don't  take  it,"  said  they, 
"  wicked  men  will ;  and  instead  of  quiet  and  order  at  the  post-office, 
ail  will  be  confusion — the  Sabbath  will  be  desecrated."  "  O,"  said 
he  to  me,  "  if  some  kind  friend  had  told  me  then,  what  you  tell  mo 
now,  I  should  not  be  here."  "Well,"  said  I,  "get  out  of  it  now." 
"  But  I  can't,"  said  he,  "  and  provide  for  my  family  :  let  me  keep 
it  till  I  pay  for  my  farm,  and  then  I  will  relinquish  it."  "But," 
said  I,  "  I  dare  not  to  sin  against  God  even  to  secure  a  subsistence  : 
come  out  now,  and  repent  at  once."  "  I  will,"  said  he,  "as  soon  as 
it  is  possible."  "  But  won't  you  nmo"  I  asked  him.  "  I  will  as  soon 
as  I  can,"  was  his  reply.  Last  winter,  I  visited  that  city  :  I  sought 
out  my  friend,  and  asked  him  how  it  was  with  his  soul.  His  coun- 
tenance told  that  it  was  ill.  "  How  is  it  in  other  respects,"  I  asked. 
His  farm,  about  which  he  had  been  so  solicitous,  was  gone,  and  he 
was  more  than  814,000  insolvent.  "Do  you  remember,"  said  I, 
"  what  a  friend  said  to  you  some  five  yoars  ago  ?  Will  you  leave 
the  post-office  now  ?"     "  How  can  I,"  was  his  answer. 

One  other  fact,  though  I  do  not  mean  to  trespass  on  your  time. 
Some  ten  years  ago,  in  Ohio,  I  had  under  my  charge,  a  post-master, 
about  five  miles  distant ;  and  about  the  time  when  Sabbath  mails 
were  commenced,  I  warned  him  against  the  temptation  by  which  he 
was  soon  to  be  tried  ;  beseeching  him  to  have  nothing  to  do  with 
Sabbath  mails.  I  sat  up  with  him  till  midnight ;  but  he  thought  he 
could  not  give  up  the  post-office.  He  yielded  ;  and  kept  the  office  till 
one  morning  the  mail  came  while  he  was  at  family  worship.  The 
door  was  open,  and  the  bag  was  thrown  into  the  room,  close  by  where 
he  knelt.  He  closed  his  prayer,  took  up  the  bag,  but  his  hands  trem- 
bled too  much  for  him  to  open  it.  He  got  it  to  the  door,  and  set  it, 
unopened,  on  the  steps,  and  then  thought  solemnly  about  his  business. 
That  mail  came  at  the  wrong  moment,  and  he  gave  up  his  office. 

Thus,  we  see  men  robbed  of  their  rights — robbed  of  their  health — 
and  robbed  of  their  subsistence,  by  this  Sabbath  desecration.  And 
now,  if  animals,  as  well  as  men,  have  these  rights  guaranteed  to 


46 

them,  it  is  our  duty  to  secure  them  their  enjoyment.  We  are  called 
upon,  by  every  consideration  of  patriotism  and  of  religion,  to  do  it. 

As  to  the  reasoning  by  which  those  ministers  induced  my  friend  to 
take  office — it  would  be  just  as  appropriate,  if  applied  to  keeping  a 
grocory,  or  committing  a  murder.  If  they  should  say  to  him,  "  Now, 
we  think  you  had  better  take  a  sharp  knife,  and  murder  your  neigh- 
bor ;  because,  if  you  don't,  others  may ;  and  they  will  not  do  it  half 
as  gjnteelly  as  you  can,"  he  would  have  just  as  good  a  right  to 
yield  to  it,  as  to  the  other. 

Oil  my  way  here,  a  man  engaged  in  one  of  the  expresses  from 
New-York,  said  he  should  be  glad  if  the  practice  of  carrying  mails  on 
the  Sabbath,  was  abolished.  But  how  can  we  hope  for  this,  said  he, 
when  professing  Christians  will  take  particular  pains  to  mail  their 
letters  on  Saturday  evening,  to  go  out  on  Sunday  morning?  I  was 
ready  to  answer.  Thank  God !  I  know  of  one  that  wouldn't  do  it — 
but  I  had  nothing  to  say ;  for  I  felt  that,  as  a  general  thing,  it  was 
too  true. 

E.  Darwin  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  said  there  was  one  thing  in 
the  resolution  he  did  not  exactly  like.  Reference  was  made  to  the 
necessity  of  Sabbath  rest  for  laborers.  He  did  not  think  this  quite 
fair ;  for  it  seems  to  refer  to  a  better  class,  who  are  not  laborers. 
There  was  no  body,  he  said,  but  had  to  labor,  and  in  his  opinion,  no 
class  of  men  needed  rest  more  than  professional  men  :  he  insisted 
that  it  was  indispensable  for  merchants  and  lawyers.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve, said  he,  that  a  majority  of  them  would  live  out  half  their  days, 
were  it  not  for  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath.  I  refer  now  particularly  to 
the  labor  of  the  mind — to  the  relaxation  it  needs,  as  well  as  the  bo- 
dy. I  hope  that  some  person  will  revert  to  this  topic.  I  might  do  it 
myself,  but  I  do  not  wish  to  consume  the  time  of  the  Convention.  I 
hope  that  something  will  be  done  to  awaken  the  public  conscience  on 
the  subject — something  upon  which  established  institutions  need  not 
look  with  jealousy.  We  can  impress  upon  the  public  mind  the  duty 
of  observing  the  Sabbath,  and  bring  the  Christian  influence  to  bear 
upon  it.  If  we  undertake  to  do  more,  we  may  defeat  the  very  end  at 
which  we  aim.  But  we  can,  at  least,  seek  to  arouse  public  attention 
to  the  subject ;  and  if  any  thing  is  to  be  done,  it  is  fit  that  we  should 
approach  it  at  once.  I  am  sure  that  the  subject  is  one  upon  which 
all  minds  are  fully  made  up  :  it  needs  no  argument — so  deep  is  the 
conviction  that  every  one  must  feel. 

Hon.  J.  B.  Skinner,  of  Wyoming,  said  that  he  thought  his  friend 
(Mr.  Smith)  had  mistaken  the  spirit  of  the  resolution  under  consider- 
ation. If  I  rightly  understand  it,  said  he,  its  purpose  is  to  declare 
the  rights  of  those  who  are  unable  to  speak  for  themselves — of  those 
who  are  under  the  control  and  in  the  power  of  others.  And  the  re- 
solution declares  the  rights,  not  only  of  men,  but  also  of  laboring  an- 
imals. Its  purpose  is  to  protect  all  who  are  in  the  power  of  others, 
and  are  thus  deprived  of  the  power  to  prelect  themselves.  In  this 
country,  the  rights  of  men  have  been  a  subject  of  earnest  considera- 
tion  for  years.  They  have  formed  the  subject  of  our  public  declara- 
tions ;  and  the  establishment  of  popular  rights  has  always  been  a 
subject  of  difficult  and  earnest  research.     In  all  the  investigations  of 


4d 

compels  mo  to  break  the  Sabbath,  it  may  compel  them  to  do  any 
thing  else  in  violation  of  the  right  of  conscience ;  and  when  the  em- 
ployed yield  to  this  spirit  so  generally,  what  can  the  poor  conscien- 
tious man  do  ?  Must  he  be  left  without  employment  ?  This  subject, 
I  apprehend,  is  not  sufficiently  considered.  I  am  satisfied  th.at  if  we 
could  awaken  the  community  to  a  sense  of  its  importance,  the  spirit 
which  enforces  a  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  would  be  resisted  with  the 
feeling  with  which  involuntary  taxation  was  resisted  by  our  patriot 
father. 

Judge  Sampson,  of  Rochester,  said  he  did  not  intend  to  detain  the 
Convention  long — but  he  hoped  they  were  ready  to  continue  the  ses- 
sion as  long  as  they  should  find  it  necessary  for  the  transaction  of 
their  business.  He  would  answer  for  the  citizens  of  Rochester,  that 
they  would  entertain  tiicm  as  long  as  they  thought  it  best  to  remain. 

Perhaps,  said  he,  the  subject  of  this  resolution  has  been  nearly 
exhausted  :  and  yet  its  spirit  is  important,  and  has  been  so  grossly 
misrepresented  that  its  import  should  be  clearly  understood.  It  em- 
braces the  official  regulations  for  the  official  violation  of  the  Sabbath. 
If  there  is  any  one  subject  upon  which  the  American  people  are 
always  ready  to  insist,  it  is  that  of  their  equal  and  inalienable  rights. 
The  violation  of  these,  on  the  part  of  the  mother  country  pro- 
duced the  war  of  Independence  ;  and  the  sages  of  the  Revolution, 
when  they  came  to  settle  their  rights,  and  to  secure  them,  were  care- 
ful to  go  to  the  original  source,  to  place  them  upon  paper,  and  embody 
them  in  the  Constitution.  It  was  the  fear  that,  after  all,  the  equal 
rights  of  every  citizen  were  not  fully  secured  by  the  Constitution, 
which  led  to  the  opposition  it  experienced,  and  to  the  reluctance  and 
hesitation  with  which  it  was  at  last  adopted.  New- York  was  one 
of  the  last  States  to  yield  her  assent;  and  she  did  not  yield  till  it  was 
well  understood  that  certain  other  provisions  should  be  adduced,  more 
precisely  to  define,  protect,  and  secure  their  equal  rights.  I  will 
venture  to  say,  that  at  that  period,  no  man  dreamed,  that  by  a  simple 
post-office  regulation,  some  twenty-six  or  thirty  thousand  individu- 
als  holding  office  in  the  United  States,  should  be  required,  in  violation 
of  their  consciences,  to  violate  the  sacredness  of  the  holy  Sabbath, 
or  forfeit  the  right  to  hold  their  office.  Allusion  has  been  made  to 
the  petitions  that  were  presented  on  that  subject.  The  regulation 
of  the  post-office  should  be  generally  understood,  in  order  fully  to  un- 
understand  the  merits  of  these  efforts.  The  rule  is,  that  the  post-office 
shall  be  kept  open  at  certain  reasonable  hours  in  every  day  of  the 
week — including  Sunday  of  course — besides  additional  regulations 
for  carrying  the  mails.  When  the  citizens  of  Western  New- York 
petitioned  for  a  repeal  of  this  regulation,  and  that  government  would 
do,  in  relation  to  the  post-office,  what  the  whole  country  had  done 
in  their  legislatures,  to  suspend  labor  on  that  day,  a  cry  was  raised  of 
"Union  of  Church  and  State" — "The  establishment  of  religion  by 
law" — "  Treasonable  combinations,"  and  such  terrific  phrases.  And 
a  grave  report  was  made  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  trying 
to  prove  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  establish  religion  by  law,  or  to 
give  the  preference  to  one  sect  of  Christians  over  another.  The  au- 
thor of  that  report  might  just  as  well  have  told  us  that  they  had  no 
4 


50 

power  to  take  a  voyage  to  the  moon  !  Was  ever  seen  such  absurd 
sophistry  !  And  yet,  the  report  was  regarded  as  an  unanswerable 
document ;  and  it  quieted  the  minds  of  many,  as  it  seemed  to  say 
that  petitioners  had  no  right  to  ask  what  Congress  had  no  right  to 
grant.  There  you  have  the  whole  merits  of  that  subje«t,  in  a  nut- 
shell. And  yet,  with  all  the  jealousy  which  the  people  entertain  of 
any  infraction  of  their  inalienable  rights,  that  regulation  still  remains 
in  force.  Indications  that  it  may  be  repealed,  have  been  made  to  ^ 
some  extent ;  and  if  an  expression  go  forth  from  the  right  quarter,  it. 
may  be  accomplished  ;  though  it  may  not  be  proper  for  the  Conven- 
tion  to  take  any  action  on  the  sub),ect. 

This  feeling  of  jealousy  against  violations  of  equal  rights,  has  beem 
an  increasing  spirit.  It  is  extendring  even  to  those  who  are  unhap- 
pily held  in  African  bondage.  It  is  the  same  feeling  which  creates 
the  serious  difficulty  in  the  way  of  adjusting  the  subject  of  a  tariiP — 
not  because  people  do  not  believe  it  would  conduce  to  tlie  genera^l 
welfare  ;  but  from  a  fear  lest  it  might  operate,  more  to  the  advantage 
of  one  section  of  the  country,  than  another.  Hence  ariser  the  objec- 
tions so  frequently  made  to  all  monopolies.  Is  it  not,  then,  worth 
while  to  consider  whether  it  is  right  thus  to  force  thirty  thousand  in*, 
dividuals  to  violate  the  dictates  of  th&ir  consciences  ?  I  do  not  admit 
that  any  conscientious  Christian  can  hesitate  fo>r  one  moment  :  he 
cannot  do  it,  however  humble  he  may  be.  He  had  better  trust  to 
Providence,  and  wash  his  hands  of  all  such  injustice.  But  when  we 
talk  of  equal  rights,  it  becomes  another  question. 

There  is  another  topic  to  which  I  would  refer,  in  connexion  witih 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  It  may  be  somewbal  remote  frorafthe 
resolution:  but  it  has  a  bearing  upon  the  general  subject.  I  mean 
the  commission  of  criiBe.  Every  one,  in  this  respect,  has  an  inter- 
est in  preventing  the  desesraiion  of  the  Sabbath.  Who  ever  heard 
of  a  conscientious  Sabbath-keeper  being  arraigned  in  our  courts  of 
justice,  for  the  commission  of  crime  ?  I  have  had  considerable  ex- 
perience there  ;  and,  as  the  result  of  that  experience,  I  can  say  that 
almost  invariably  has  the  commissian  of  crime  been  connected  with 
the  violation  of  the  Sabbath.  An  opportunity  is  furnished  on  that 
day,  when  worldly  business  is  suspendsd,  for  violators  of  its  house  to 
congregate  and  contrive  their  wickedi  sshemes.  At  the  last  term  of 
the  criminal  court  of  this  city,  I  recolleet,  two  small  boys  were 
brought  up,  charged  with  burglary  committed  on  the  Lord's  day. 
They  were  both  scholars  in  the  Sabbath-school,  and  came  directly 
from  the  school — contrived  their  plan  of  breaking  open  a  house,  and 
stealing  the  money — did  so,  and  divided  it.  They  were  members  of 
the  Sabbath-school,  but  they  had  no  Sabbath  at  home.  They  were 
only  permitted  to  go,  by  their  parents,  who  took  no  interest  in  the 
school,  and  cared  not  where  their  children  were.  One  was  sent  to 
the  House  of  Refuge,  and  the  other  e.scaped,  more  from  a  feeling  of 
compassion  on  the  part  of  the  jury,  by  reason  of  hisextrenie  youth, 
than  by  any  doflbt  of  his  guilt.  I  might  easily  specify  many  similar 
instances  ;  but  I  will  consume  no  more  of  your  time.  "^ 

Capt.  Sullivan  said  he  was  highly  gratified  at  the  popular  char- 
acter of  this  Convention.     I  rejoice,  said  he,  that  at  length  all  men 


51 

recognize  the  right  of  the  poor  man  to  the  Sabbath,  to  be  a  constitu- 
tional element  of  all  operations  designed  to  do  him  good ;  and  in  ri- 
sing  to  speak  upon  the  subject,  I  would  say  that  I  represent  fifteen 
thousand  men — not  old  men — not  middle-aged  men — but  young  men. 
Nor  is  it  fifteen  thousand  alone,  but  hundreds  of  thousands  who  are 
turning  their  eyes  in  the  direction  of  this  Convention,  in  the  expecta- 
tion that  it  will  be  of  benefit  to  them.  Nor  in  recognizing  this  right 
of  all  men  to  the  Saljbath,  have  the  Convention  done  all  tha^  is  re- 
quired,.  Should  it  break  up,  then,  and  its  members  go  home,  we 
should  not  satisfy  those  who  sent  us  here.  We  could  only  tell  them 
that  we  went,  and  became  satisfied  that  the  subject  was  one  of  in- 
creasing importance ;  but  that  we  !«.d  done  nothing  to  remedy  the 
evil.  We  are  now  aiming  at  practical  results.  The  public  mind  is 
expecting  something  definite  from  this  assembly.  And  I  hope  I  do 
not  narrow  down  the  field  of  action^  to  a  small  point,  when  I  take  the 
watermen  of  these  United  States,  and  suppose  that  it  is  in  their  be- 
half that  this  Cdnvention  is  assembled  to  act. 

Now,  to  do  good  to  any  class  of  men,  it  is  important  to  know  how  • 
tbey  stand,  and  what  their  wishes  are,  in  relation  to  the  Sabbath.  I 
heard  my  friend  from  Cleveland  mention  interesting  facts,  touching 
their  condition,  feelings,  &c.  I  have  travelled  on  Lake  Ontario,  and 
up  and  down  the  Welland  canal,  as  an  agent  for  the  Bethel  Society. 
I  have  preached  in  the  open  air  to  multitudes  of  sailors  and  boatmen 
— holding  conversations  with  them  in  every  situation  in  life  ;  and  I 
trust  I  shall  not  seem  vain  or  egotistical,  if  T  permit  myself  to  believe 
that  I  know  something  of  their  true  condition.  I  have  been  myself  a 
sailor.  I  have  beendeprived  myself  of  the  Sabbath,  for  sixteen  years 
of  my  life  ;  and  I.  attribute  much  of  my  present  feebleness,  both  of 
mind  and  of  body,  to  the  fact  that  the  Sabbath  was  wrested  from  me 
during  that  time.  If,  then,  I  seem  to  speak  with  feeling  on  this  sub- 
ject, I  trust  it  will  not  appear  strange  to  you.  And,  Sir,  I  find  the 
feelings  of  those  now  engaged  in  the  business,  identical  with  my  own. 
I  find  that  the  boatmen — those  on  the  canal  and  on  the  lakes — all 
feel  alike  on  this  subject :  they  feel  that  the  Sabbath  is  the  blessing 
of  all  blessings.  Men  difier  somewhat  in  the  way  of  securing  its  be- 
nefits ;  and  we  must  keep  it  before  the  mind,  and  see  it  as  a  practi- 
cal matter;  and  it  is  with. a  view  of  speaking  upon  this,  that  I  have 
arisen. 

Above  two  and  a  half  years  ago,  while  in  Buffalo,  my  feelings  be- 
ing then  as  now  in  relation  to  the  right  to  the  Sabbath,  I  sought  to 
make  them  known  to  others,  and' got  up  a  meeting  in  the  Bethel 
Church.  I  was  familiar  with  all  the  facts  touching  the  physiologi- 
cal view  of  the  Sabbath,  and  had  seen  the  testimony  taken  before 
the  British  House  of  Commons,  and  had  gathered  elsewhere  various 
interesting  facts  bearing  upon  this  point.  I  hope  it  will  be  received, 
as  I  intend  to  offer  it,  as  a  plain  statement  of  facts,  without  deduction, 
that  when  the  suggestion  was  made  that  such  a  movement  should  be 
started,  I  felt  an  awful  foreboding  that  it  would  not  do  to  talk  in  a 
plain  way,  and  to  put  ideas  in  their  heads  incompatible  with 
the  interests  of  the  merchants.  I  talked  to  them,  brought  up  facts  as 
est  could,  showing  the  advantages  of  the  Sabbath,  not  only  in  a 


52 

spiritual,  but  in  a  moral,  social,  and  physical  point  of  view.  They 
were  thunder-struck.  I  ventured  to  say,  "  Aow,  shipmates,  these 
things  are  not  only  true,  but  also  the  opinions  of  others.  Mark  ye  : 
it  is  said  by  business  men  in  Buffalo  and  Cleveland,  that  you  are  too 
degraded  to  improve  by  the  Sabbath  ;  that  you  can't  appreciate  the 
Sabbath.  They  send  missionaries  to  the  heathen ;  and  I  wish  you 
to  understand  that  they  thus  think  them  vastly  superior  to  you." 
The  meeting  was  over,  and  they  rallied  around  me,  and  looked,  like 
men,  right  in  my  face,  and  asked,  "  Is  that  true — all  that  you  have 
said  ?"  "  It  is  true  ;  I  know  it."  They  saw  that  I  was  one  of  them> 
and  they  were  satisfied  of  its  truth.  "  Captain,"  said  one,  "  we 
shall  think  of  this  matter ;  but  what  can  we  do  ?  we  are  very  Igpor- 
ant."  That  is  the  trouble  ;  they  are  ignorant,  and  they  want  to 
know  the  facts  of  the  case  ;  and  it  is  our  business  to  give  them  those 
facts.  The  other  day,  I  was  at  Port  Dalhousie,  preaching  to  the  s§,i- 
lors  there  ;  and  after  I  had  directed  their  attention  to  the  subject  of 
religion  and  temperance,  I  held  a  conversation  with  a  number  of 
«■  them  upon  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath.  Sir,  I  am  afraid  this 
Convention  may  do  harm,  rather  than  good.  I  feel  as  if  standing  a- 
mong  the  crowd  of  Israelites,  on  the  banks  of  the  Red  Sea,  when  Mo- 
ses told  them  to  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  God.  We  have 
been  like  a  mill->vheel  under  full  head-way,  when  the  band  has  at 
length  snapped  ;  and  the  whole  movement  it  now  possesses,  is  in  con- 
sequence of  the  momentum  it  had  acquired.  God  Almighty  has 
come  down,  and  has  laid  his  finger  upon  the  business  of  the  country, 
and  men  have  been  brought  up  standing.  A  few  days  ago,we  couldn't 
get  men  to  think  on  the  subject  of  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  ;  but 
they  are  calmed  down  now.  It  has  now  become  a  matter  of  pecun- 
iary consideration.  Business  is  diminished  ;  and  the  question  comes 
up — May  it  not  be  true  that  there  is  a  blessirvg  connected  with  keep- 
ing the  Sabbath  holy  ?  and  may  it  not  be  seen  in  my  affairs,  as  well 
as  those  of  others  ?  They  have  now  got  time  to  reflect  on  this  sub- 
ject. They  have  but  little  to  do,  with  regard  to  mercantile  concerns. 
Now,  give  sailors  the  facts,  and  they  will  take  care  of  themselves. 
They  have  got  minds.  Men  on  these  waters,  possess  as  good  minds 
as  any  other  class  of  men  thrown  together  in  the  various  circumstan- 
ces of  life.  They  have  the  ability  to  discern  truth,  when  the  facts 
are  put  before  them.  Our  hope,  under  God,  is  in  seeking  to  arrest 
the  tide  of  Sabbath-breaking  in  the  land,  by  bringing' /acts  to  bear  upon 
this  class.  I  was  upon  this  canal  last  Sabbath  ;  the  -captain  said  he 
had  come  to  the  conclusion  not  to  violate  the  Sabbath  ;,  and,  as  he 
Avas  going  up,  there  were  three  American  vessels  astern.  It  was  a 
drizzling,  rainy  morning  ;  and  the  captains  of  these  vessels  were  mak- 
ing arrangements  for  going  on.  They  called  out  to  the  captain,  to 
know  why  he  did  not  go  ahead.  He  sg,id  his  vessel-would  be  laid 
up  for  that  day.  They  then  consulted  together,  and  finally  conclud- 
ed, "  Well,  perhaps,  it  is  about  as  well ;  and,  on  the  whole,  we'll 
lay  by  too." 

Now,  whatever  may  be  done  by  this  Convention,  one  thing,  above 
all  others,  should  be  attended  to.  The  facts  of  the  case  should  be 
collected,  and  tracts  should  be  published  on  the  subject ;  and  then 


53 

scattered,  like  leaves,  over  the  whole  country.  The  sailor  then  will 
get  them,  and  will  soon  become  familiar  with  all  the  facts  they  con- 
tain. 

The  resolution  was  then  put,  and  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  HicKOK,  of  Budalo,  moved  to  appoint  a  committee  of  thirteen, 
to  which  he  wished  to  refer  a  resolution  contemplating  a  plan  for  effi- 
cient action. 

Dr.  Edw^ards,  from  the  Business  Committee,  said  that  a  resolution 
had  already  been  introduced,  and  would  soon  come  up  for  considera- 
tion, which  would  state  definitely  the  views  of  the  committee,  with 
regard  to  definite  action. 

Mr.  HiCKOK  complained  that  there  was  no  chance  of  presenting  to 
the  committee  the  claims  and  feelings  of  the  people  of  Buffalo,  as 
they  were  not  represented  in  the  committee. 

Judge  Samfson  said  that  he  hoped  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Hickok 
would  be  referred  to  the  Business  Committee ;  and  moved  to  amend 
the  motion,  by  substituting  the  addition  of  two  members  to  that  com- 
mittee. 

Judge  WiLKESOX  hoped  the  course  would  not  be  deemed  necessa- 
ry. He  was  sure  no  reflection  upon  the  committee  was  intended  by 
Mr.  HicKOK.  He  urged  the  bringing  up  for  discussion  the  resolution 
that  suggests  the  plan  for  definite  action — as  it  was  impossible,  ac- 
cordmg  to  present  appearances,  to  tell  how  long  the  session  of  the 
Convention  might  be  protracted. 

The  amendment  of  Judge  Sampson  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Hickok, 
whose  motion,  as  amended,  was  passed. 

'J'he  President  appointed  Mr.  Hickok  and  Judge  Wilkeson,  as  the 
additional  members  of  the  Business  Committee. 

The  tenth  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

10.  Resolved,  That  as  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  tends  powerful- 
ly to  the  commission  of  crimes,  those  who  are  guilty  of  it,  are  not 
only  doing  great  injury  to  themselves  and  their  families,  but  are 
committing  great  injustice  to  the  community. 

On  taking  the  question,  the  resolution  was  adopted  unanimously. 
The  eleventh  resolution  was  then  read  : 

11.  Resolved,  That  as  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  essential 
to  all  the  great  interests  of  mankind,  it  is  the  duty  of  all,  not  only  to 
observe  it  themselves,  but  to  e.xert  their  influence,  that  it  may  be  ob- 
served by  all  others. 

This  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 
The  twelfth  resolution  was  then  read  : 

12.  Resolved,  That  as  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  essential  to 
all  the  great  interests  of  men,  we  hereby  agree  that  we  will  endeavor, 
by  ( xample  and  influence,  to  persuade  all  persons  to  abstain  from 
worldly  business  or  amusements,  and  observe  the  appropriate  duties 
of  that  day. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  said  that  this  resolution  laid  down  a  general 
principle :  the  next  advanced  a  step  farther,  towards  a  definite 
plan. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisnkr,  of  Lockport,  wished  to  offer  a  few  remarks  on 
this  resolution,  before  the  question  was  finally  taken  on  its  passage. 


54 

1  I'dgard  it,  said  he,  as  one  of  great  importance,  in  its  relation  to  the 
discussions  of  this  Convention.  I  regard  it,  Sir,  to  use  language 
which  some  of  us  who  are  in  the  habit  of  sermonizing,  will  under- 
stand as  the  body  of  the  discourse,  while  the  one  which  follows  it,  is 
the  practical  inference.  This  determines  what  we  will  do  ourselves : 
the  other,  what  we  would  advise  others  to  do.  And,  L would  ask,  if 
we  ought  not  to  understand  the  course  we  are  to  pursue,  before  we 
advance  any  further  ?  My  only  objection  to  this  resolution,  is,  that  it 
is  net  definite  enough  in  its  character.  We  agree  to  do  all  in  out 
power  to  promote  Sabbath-keeping  ;  but  we  find  that  it  is  left  entire- 
ly to  ourselves  to  determine  what  that  means  ;  arid'I  feel,  for  my 
own  part,  that  if  we  pass  the  resolution  in  its  present  form,  we  shall 
have  to  appoint  a  committee  of  thirteen  to  write  a  commentary  upon 
it,  to  show  us  what  is  to  be  its  practical  operation.  I  presume  that 
the 'resolution  refers  to  the  boats  on  our  canal  and  on  our  lakes,  and 
to  other  matters  of  this  kind.  But  I  feel  that  we  ought  to  put  our 
finger  on  them,  by  name,  so' that  all  men  may  know  what  we  mean. 
There  are  individuals  in  Lockport,  who  will  tell  you  that  they  will 
do  all  they  can,  to  support  the  Sabbath — that  they  think  it  an  excel- 
lent institution  ;  and  yet  these  men  will  keep  their  ware-houses  open 
on  the  Sabbath.  It  is  just  like  throwing  away  all  creeds,  and  say- 
ing  that  we  will  rely  wholly  on  the  Bible.  On  that  ground,  Presby- 
terians and  Methodists,  and  all  sects  might  agree  ;  provided,  we  could 
only  agree  as  to  what  the  Bible  teaches.  I  want  to  go  to  individuals 
in  Lockport,  who  keep  their  ware-houses  open,  and  still  come  to 
church,  and  say  that  they  will  do  all  they  can  to  keep  the  Sabbath, 
and  tell  thern  that,  in  the  opinion  of  this  respectable  Convention, 
keeping  their  ware-houses  open  on  the  Sabbath,  is  Sabbath-breaking. 
I  wish  them  perfectly  to  understand  the  matter.  All  this,  to' be  sure, 
may  be  explained  in  debate,  and,  perhaps,  it  may  go  to  the  world  in 
print.  It- may,  or  it  may  not ;  but  it  is  not  in  the  resolution.  That 
is  perfectly  general '  in  its  form  :  it  lacks  definiteness — particularity. 
I  hope  that  this  matter  will  be  fully  drawn  out.  I  want  to  put  our 
hand  on  sins  in  common  practice,  and  tell  the  community  at  large, 
that  we  will  not  travel,  if  we  can  prevent  it,  in  Sabbath-breaking 
stages,  or  rail-roads,  or  canal-boats  ;  nor  will  we  forward  our  goods 
by  such  conveyances.  In  all  reforms,  there  must  be  three  classes  of 
men  to  operate  upon— Christians,  patriots,  and  selfish  men.  The 
first  two,  will  be  addressed  by  general  argument.  But,  before  sel- 
fish men,  it:' is  of  no  use  to  array  such  considerations.  As  well  might 
the  old  man  in  the  spelling-book,  have '  hoped  to  bring  down  the  boys 
from  his  apple-tree,  by  pehing  them  with  grass.  We  must  appeal 
to  their  selfishness— we  must  tell  them  that  we  will  bring  selfish  in- 
terests to  bear  against  them.  I  hope  this  resolution  will  not  pass  in 
its  present  form,  because  merrtbers  are  in  a  hurry  to  get  home.  I  do 
not  feel  so.  1  want  more  specific  resolutions  ;  and  I  hope  the  matter 
will  be  looked  in  the  face ;  and,  if  something  more  specific  can  be 
had,  1  hope  the  Convention  will  have  it. 

Dr.  Edwards  agreed  to  the  importance  of  specification.  The  only 
point  of  difference  seemed  to  be,  as  to  the  proper  place  where  it  would 
b:>  most  useful  to  introduce  it.     If,  said  he,  you  are  acting  only  for 


55 

ihe  welfare  of  canals  or  rail-roads,  perhaps  this  place  may  be  perti- 
nent  for  specification ;  but  I  think  the  Convention  want  some  pivot 
on  which  they  may  rest  the  Sabbath  strength  of  the  nation — a  great 
portion  of  which  have  got  no  canals  nor  rail-iT)ads  :  and  if  you  intend 
to  make  a  speciiication  at  this  precise  point,  you  cannot  cmi)ody  this 
national  strength  on  any  other.  You  may  appeal  to  one  body  of  men 
after  another,  but  we  wish  this  as  a  central  point  for  them  all.  But 
I  think  that  wliile  we  can  accomplish  all  local  objects,  by  proper 
fipecifications  in  the  right  place,  we  can  also  accomplish  another  ob- 
ject  by  this  resolution.  God  looks  at  these  things,  not  as  man  does. 
Four  young  men  once  went  to  a  place,  to  ask  what  they  could  do, 
with  reference  to  a  certain  specified  duty — one  purely  local  in  its 
influence.  They  looked  no  farther  than  this  :  but  the  Lord  lf)oked 
farther,  cind  raised,  from  this  humble  beginning,  the  American  Board 
■of  Education.  He  looked  ever  the  whole  globe;  while  their  view 
was  bounded  by  their  single  local  interest.  They  thought  of  nothing 
farther ;  but  the  Lord  did  :  and  this  simple  thing  was  instrumental 
in  creating  the  Education  Society,  which  now  reaches  over  the 
-whole  country.  And  I  look  upon  it  as  a  striking  fact,  while  here 
•upon  this  spot,  which  was  blessed  early  by  the  efforts  of  men  of  eagle- 
■eye  and  of  far-reaching  vision,  as  if  they  saw  around  the  world :  this 
is  a  great  spot,  and  you  should  labor  to  make  it  greater.  Is  not  this 
the  spot  where  was  "first  struck  out  the  idea  of  giving  1o  every  family 
in  the  nation  a  Bible  ?  and  was  it  not  caught  from  here,  and  circu- 
dated  throughout  the  whole  country  ?  You  thought  here,  at  first,  that 
you  wculd  have  a  city  convention,  to  help  the  people  on  the  canal  in 
^observing  and  enjoying  the  Sabbath.  That  was  very  good  ;  but 
•some  of  you  suspected  thiit  the  city  was  not  the  whole  county,  and 
■so  you  thought  of  calling  a  county  convention.  Well,  soon  it  ap- 
peared that  the  county  was  not  the  whole  Empire  State,  and  so  you 
thought  of  holding;  a  State  convention.  Finally,  it  struck  you  that 
the  Empire  ^ate,  gn-eat  as  it  is,  was  not  the  whole  world,  and  so  you 
•"determined  to  invite  whoever  weuld  come.  Now,  cannot  the  mem- 
;bers  of  this  Convention — ^^looking  beyond  the  interests  of  their  own 
towns,  or  villages,  or  counties,  and  even  States — throw  out  a  pivot 
on  which  may  hinge  the  Sabbaih  interests  of  the  world,  and  revolve 
in  delightful  harmony  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  they  can  ;  and  if  not — 
if  we  must  ihave  specification,  why  not  pass  this  resolution  for  those 
States  which  have  no  canals  or  rail-roads,  and  then  make  the  speci- 
tications  under  another  resolution  ? 

Judge  Sampson  said  that  we  had  referred  this  whole  business  to  a 
committee  in  whom  we  had  entire  confidence.  And  now,  said  he, 
shall  we  break  in  upon  the  plan  that  committee  has  marked  out,  or 
shall  we  go  through  with  the  business  in  their  own  way  ;  and  then  if 
we  want  more  than  they  have  prepared,  supply  it  for  ourselves,  as 
may  easily  be  done  ? 

After  some  little  conversation  among  the  different  members,  the 
Convention  adjourned  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 


56 

2  o'clock,  p.  m. 

The  Convention  again  assembled,  and  proceeded  with  the  discussion 
of  the  twel^y^  resolution. 

Dr.  Bdwabds  said  that  the  Business  Committee  could  perceive  no 
necessitiy,  and  nothing  to  be  gained,  by  dividing  in  opinion  upon  this 
resoluti6n.  The  object  of  all  might  be  reached,  by  passing  this  res- 
olution, and  then  proposing  others  more  specific,  if  it  should  be 
thought  best.  There  v^'ould  be  unavoidable  difficulties  in  agreeing 
upon  forms  of  specification,  but  the  committee  had  endeavored  to  ob- 
viate them,  as  much  as  possible,  in  the  resolutions  they  had  framed. 
If  more  precise  and  definite  action  must  be  had,  let  local  associations 
be  formed.  Begin  at  Rochester,  and  extend  it  from  town  to  town, 
until  the  whole  country,  and,  if  you  please,  the  whole  State,  are  em- 
braced. Then  adapt  your  resolutions  to  the  local  necessities  of  the 
different  places ;  and  in  this  way,  the  views  of  all  may  be  successful- 
ly met. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisner,  of  Lockport,  wished  to  add  a  few  words  to  what 
he  had  said  in  the  morning  ;  for  he  considered  this  as  the  most  impor- 
tant resolution  that  had  yet  been  offered.  And  here,  said  he,  I  want 
to  say  that  I  know,  as  well  as  any  body  can  tell  me,  that  I  am  com- 
paratively a  young  man  :  I  know  it  perfectly  well.  I  do  not  pro- 
fess to  be  as  far-reaching  as  many  others  ;  nor  do  1  profess  to  take 
as  comprehensive  views  of  subjects  that  may  come  up,  as  some  other 
men.  But  I  hope  I  have  got  a  heart ;  and  I  hope,  too,  that  it  is  not  con- 
fined to  Rochester,  or  to  Lockport,  or  to  Western  New- York,  in  its 
feelings  and  desires  ;  but  that  it  takes  in  the  whole  world.  I  wish  for 
something  more  distinctly  applicable  to  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath 
on  canals  and  in  ware-houses,  than  this  resolution  contains  ;  and  are 
all  the  canals  in  Rochester,  or  in  Lockport  ?  Are  all  rail-roads  in 
Western  New- York  ?  Why,  Sir,  they  cut  the  country  in  every  di- 
rection— are  spread  over  every  State — they  go  through  every  part 
of  the  Union  ;  and  unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,  there  is  a  rail-road 
passing  through  Andover  itself.  And  these  resolutions  are  to  take 
effect  in  Massachusetts,  and  every  State  in  the  Union,  and  will  reach 
across  the  Atlantic  ;  for  Europe,  too,  has  canals,  and  rail-roads,  and 
ware-houses  ;  and  the  Sabbath  is  violated  there,  too,  as  well  as  here. 
And  instead  of  having  a  resolution  with  which  every  one  may  fall 
in — with  the  sentiments  of  which  every  individual  may  exactly  a- 
gree,  I  have  thought  that  some  thing  more  definite  should  be  drawn 
up  and  presented  for  action.  I  have  hoped  that  we  should  have  had 
some  thing  precise,  which  could  not  be  mistaken  in  its  meaning.  I 
have  sat  and  listened  with  great  pleasure  and  delight,  to  the  general 
resolutions  that  have  been  introduced,  and  to  the  excellent  remarks 
made  upon  them,  because  I  supposed  we  should  come  to  the  snappers 
by-and-by — that  all  that  had  gone  before,  was  merely  the  lash  de- 
pending from  the  stalk.  But  now,  the  whole  plan  is  revealed  from 
beginning  to  end,  and  we  are  to  have  nothing  at  all  but  a  string  of 
resolutions,  without  laying  our  finger  on  any  thing  definite  in  the 
whole  matter.  Why  not  ?  Because,  we  ought  to  have  local  associ- 
ations in  various  parts  of  the  country,  to  take  the  local  matters  up  I 
But,  I  ask  if  local  associations  will  have  power  to  aftect  public  senti- 


5T 

anent,  as  this  one  will  ?  If  we  get  up  resolutions  that  every  body  may 
adopt,  we  shall  efToct  nothing  at  all,  but  leave  every  thing  to  be  done 
by  these  local  bodies.  Now,  here  is  the  place  to  be  definite  and  spe- 
cific :  unless  we  do  this,  we  shall  lose  the  great  object  for  which  we 
have  come  together.  But  we  are  told  the  rule  of  the  house  forbids 
our  going  into  this  matter,  from  the  fact  that  the  resolution  is  to  be 
acted  upon  as  r('|)ortcd  by  the  committee.  But  I  did  not  suppose 
that  we  were  to  take,  of  necessity,  every  thing  just  as  the  conunittee 
saw  fit  to  report  it,  whether  we  like  it  or  not.  We  surely  have  a 
right  to  amend,  or  re-commit,  or  do  whatever  the  Convention  see  fit, 
with  any  resolution.  And — I  speak  for  myself  only — I  hope  that  the 
course  adopted,  will  be  just  to  rc-conmiit  this  matter  to  the  commit- 
tee, for  the  purpose  of  getting  at  something  Jiiore  definite,  but  gen- 
eral, to  be  sure,  in  its  application.  I  do  not  want  the  local  sins  of 
Lockport  or  Western  New-York,  to  be  brought  up  here,  but  I  want 
to  reach  all  in  the  land.  If  there  is  any  man  who  violates  the  Sab- 
bath by  keeping  a  ware-house  open  on  that  day,  I  want  the  views 
and  feelings  of  this  Convention  expressed,  so  that  they  shall  reach 
him.  These  men  are  not  in  any  one  or  two  places  :  they  are  all  over 
the  land — sincerely  believing,  at  the  same  time,  that  they  do  all  they 
can  to  promote  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 

Now,  much  as  I  admire  the  standing  talents  of  the  gentlemen  on 
that  committee,  I  must  beg  leave  to  dissent  as  to  the  generality  of 
the  resolution ;  and  I  rise  to  move  that  the  resolution  may  be  re- 
commHled,  in  order  to  an  alteration  in  this  respect,  if  the  committee 
shall  see  fit. 

Judge  WiLKEsoN  said  that  these  were  exactly  the  views  he  had 
expressed  in  the  morning.  He  hoped  they  would  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration in  perfect  harmony ;  and  he  was  willing  thus  to  submit 
the  subject. 

Rev.  Mr.  WiSNER,  of  Ithaca,  seconded  the  motion  for  recommit- 
ment ;  and  he  wished  to  give  a  few  reasons  for  doing  so.  He  wished 
the  resolution  to  go  back  to  the  same  committee,  because  he  had 
perfect  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Committee,  and  in  their  abil- 
ity to  meet  the  views  of  the  Convention.  I  am  in  favor  of  recom- 
mitment, because  I  am  dissatisfied  with  the  resolutions  as  they  are. 
They  have  appeared  to  mc  from  the  beginning  (and  in  this  I  have 
sympathised  with  the  remarks  of  Judge  Wilkeson)  too  general.  I 
fully  believe  that  if  we  just  pass  this  resolution  as  it  is  proposed,  we 
can  go  to-morrow  to  every  respectable  Sabbath-breaker  in  the  land, 
and  get  him  to  subscribe  to  the  sentiments  therein  contained.  Why, 
will  not  every  Sabbath-breaker  who  believes  that  the  Sabbath  is  a 
divine  institution,  tell  you  that  he  means  to  use  all  his  example  and 
influence  to  prevent  Sabbath-breaking  ?  Certainly,  he  will  tell  you 
he  will  most  assuredly  do  that ;  but  then  this  thing  in  which  he  is 
engaged,  is  not  Sabbath-breaking  ;  and  that  thing  is  not  Sabbath- 
breaking.  "  What  /  do  is  not  Sabbath-breaking ;  but  only  what 
somebody  else  is  doing."  Now  if  I  have  any  correct  view  of  the 
subject  of  this  Qjnvenlion,  its  object  is  to  show  the  people  what,  in  the 
opinion  of  this  body,  is  Sabbath- breaking  ;  and  thus  to  exert  an  in- 
fluence against  it.     Now  if  we  are  to  pass  all  these  resolutions  out 


5B 

•6F  respect  to  the' Committee,  we  shall  have  left  off  just  where  we  be- 
gun. We  shall  have  passed  a  set  of  truisms  which  every  body  be- 
lieves, and  which  every  body  knew  before  we  came  here.  They  are 
all  excellent,  and  it  is  well  to  say  that  they  are  our  opinions  ;  but 
after  all,  we  have  not  advanced  one  step.  And  it  will  become  easy, 
after  we  get  through  here,  to  go  to  work  again,  and  to  say  what  \ve 
will  do  to  prevent  Sabbath-breaking.  And  in  order  to  say  any  thing 
about  it,  we  shall  find  it  necessary  first  to  determine  what  is  Sib- 
bath'-'breaking.  Now  one  will  say  :  "I  go  to  church  every  Sabbath, 
and  hear  preaching ;  but  my' horses  and  hands  "are  at  work  ontte 
canal."  Another  says  :  "  I  own  stock,  and  one-seventh  part  of  tbe 
profit  is  earned  on  the  Sabbath,  and  is  obtained  by  robbing  God." 
Still,  they  aver  Z/tai  is  not  Sabbath-breaking.  We  want  something 
now  to  reach  just  such  cases  as  these.  Dear  to  my  heart  as  is  the 
object  brother  Edwards  proposes  to  attain — some  general  expression 
of  universal  ■application— ^I  desire  something  particular  also.  The 
idea  of  affecting  the  world  arid  not  affecting  the  irldividuals  in  it,' is 
visionary,  because  the  world  is  made  up  of  individuals.  Now  these 
individuals  cannot  be  affected,  unless  our  preaching  is  adapted  to 
their  consciences.  'Many  of  us,  by  experience,  know  that  people  are 
not  apt  to  apply  unwelcome  truths  to  themselves.  I  remember  once 
preaching  against  Universalism,  and  there  happened  to'  be  one  in  the 
house.  SoKie  one  asked  him  if  it  hit  him.  No,  he  said  ;  but  it  fell 
thick  as  spatter  all  around  him.  That  is  the  general  feeling,  'it 
'■always  falls  thick  as  spatter  all  around  ;  but  it  never  Mis  any' body 
in  particular. 

Now  we  must  take  a  position  here,  arid  proclaim  our  sentiments, 
if  we  would  do  any  thing  to  effect  the  great  object.     What  would 
'  havebecome  of  the  Temperance  Reform,  if,  at  the  great  Temperance 
■Conventions,  they  had    passed    resolutions  that  drunkenness  was"a 
great  evil' f— a  sad  evil  7 — arid  had  discussed  it  till  they  brought  tears 
into  the  eyes  of  the  whole  assembly.     They  might  have  resolved  that 
'drunkenness  was  a  great  evil,  in  a  civil,  social,  and  religious  point 
'  of  view ;  and  they  might  have  spent  whole  days  in  discussing  the 
evils  of  drunkenness  ;  and  they  might  have  resolved,  one  and  all, 
that  in  view  of  the  great  evils  of  drunkenness,  they  would  do  all  in 
'their  power,' by  influence  arid  example,  to  stop  it.     They  flight  have 
■  done  all  this,  and  this  resolution  might  have  been  in  every  body's 
^  mouth  ;  arid  the  drunkard  would  have  laughed  in  your  face,  and  rOl- 
led  on  in  his  desolation ;  and  the  sin  might  have  gone  on  to  people 
the  bottomless  pit,  as  on  the  day  it  first  begun.     They  found  out  that 
'a  general  pledge  of  this  kind,  worild  not  answer  ;  so  they  took  the 
bull  by  the  horns,  and  resolved  neither  to  touch,  taste,  nor  handle  the 
unclean  thing-     If  they  had  said  they  wanted  to  make  the  operation 
of  the   reform,  general — to  extend  it  through  the  world,  and  not  to 
narrow  it  down  to  the  distillery  and  whiskey-shop,  for  these  were 
local  affairs — what  would  have  become  of  the  cause  ?     Why,  now 
this  reform,  which  seems  to  cover  the  world  with  its  cloud  of  glory, 
began  in  these  local  movements;  and  spread  one  circle  without  an- 
other, till  it  embraced  the  whole  State,  the  whole  nation,  and  finally 
all  England  and  the  continent  of  Europe,  like  the  circles  in  a  poolj 
made  by  a  little  pebble. 


59 

'1  am  not  golnff  to  say,  in  this  place,  precisely  wliat  is  the  hest  lan- 
guage in  which  these  sentiments  should  be  expressed  ;  but  I  believe 
tiiat  the  committee  (from  the  entire  confidence  that' I  feel  in  their  pow- 
ers  and  the  correctness  of  their  views)'  can  concoct  something  which 
shall  reach  specific  cases,  better  than  this  resolution.  I  trust  triat  it 
will  notbe  merely  a  general  denunciation  of  Sabbath-brcaldng  ;  but 
let  it  tell  us  where  it  is  to  be  found.  Let  it  uncover  the  monster  and 
drag  him  to  light,  so  that  every  man  who  owns  stock  in  Sabbath- 
breaking  rail-roads  and  canal-boats,  can' have  something  to  reach  his 
case  and  his  conscience,  whether  he  vvill  or  not  ;  so  that  he  shall  not 
be  left,  after  all,  to  discover  for  himself  what  we  mean  by  Sabbath- 
breaking.  My  own  view  of  the  matter,  is  like  that  conveyed  in  an 
anecdote  of  a  sermon  where  I  once  preached.  I  was  told  that  some 
one  had  preached  there  before  me  ;  and  after' he  got  through  it  was 
said  he  made  his  hearers  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  Some  said  he 
preached  the  doctrine  of  election;  and  others  said"  he  did  not.  "  Well," 
said  I,  "when  I  preach,  I  can  assure  you  of  one  thing- — you  will  have 
no  difficulty  at  ail,  to  tell  what  I  did  preach."  Now  I  want  that  no 
one  should  have  the  least  difficulty  in  determining  what  this  Conven- 
tion understand  by  Sabbath-breaking. 

Judge  WiLKESON  said  that  he  had  hoped  the  resolution  would  pass 
without  discussion  ;  but  he  had  seen  nothing  to  change  but  much  to 
confirm  the  opinion  he  had  expressed  in  the  morning,  that  wc  need 
something  more  definite.  The  question  wiri  continnaliy  recur — what 
did  this  Convention  of  reverend  and  respectable  men  come  here  for  ? 
Why  did  this  congregated  wisdom  and  experience  assemble  ?  Must  it 
be  only  to  give  some  very  seasonable  advice,  just  such  as  every  body 
might  be  expected  to  give  ?  It  was  to  try  in  the  discussion  of  the 
subject  if  they  could  not  devise  some  plan,  to  arrest  the  desecration  oT 
the  Sabbath.  No  other  answer  could  be  desired  ;  but  is  it  best  then 
to  adopt  resolutions  which  would  be  just  as  appropriate  at  any  other 
meeting?  This  resolution  would  certainly  not  be  out  of  place  at 
a  Tract  Society,  or  an  Education  Meeting,  or  any  other  Society,  that 
'  sought  to  make  man  happy.  "Now  it  is  only'  as  to  the  time  that  we 
disagree.  The  gentlemen  who  presented  this  resolution,  have  sub- 
jected themselves  to  no  censure.  Jt  is  rather  marvellous  that,  meetiffg 
as  we  do,  there  has  been  no  greater  difference  of  opinion  tlian  has 
been  manifested.  Now  one  cause  of  difficulty  arises,  foi'' believing,  on 
the  one  hand,  that  the  object,  the  prevention  of  Sabbath  desecration, 
can  be  best  attained  by  local  action.  Now,  what  is  there  to  take 
this  oat  of  all  other  cases  ?  Why  should  it  be  an  exception  to  all 
others  ?  In  otiier  matters  we  begin  with  primary  assemblies,  and 
bring  the  matter  thus  up  to  National  Conventions.  But  why  should 
we  get  together  in  large  conventions  as  now,  and  then  send  the  mat- 
ter back  to  local  assemblies  ? 

Another  difficulty  arises  from  supposing  that  we  have  dlfTerent  in- 
terests here.  Here  is  one  person  from  a  section  of  canals,  and  there 
is  another  from  a  quarter  where  there  are  none.  Now  this  is  a  great 
misapprehension.  There  are  five  States  East  of  New- York,  and  six 
or  seven  West,  which  have  precisely  the  same  interest  in  this  ques- 
tion, with  ourselves.     The  great  line  of  communication  between  the 


60 

East  and  the  West,  is  to  the  great  region  between  the  West  of  the 
Missouri,  and  the  Eastern  United  States,  what  the  channel  of  the 
Mississippi  is  to  places  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  Eastern 
part  of  the  United  States  is  sending  its  population  Westward  every 
year,  to  establish  her  institutions  there:  and  it  strikes  those  who  thus 
go  through  our  State,  as  every  traveller  judges  from  what  they  see 
on  the  canal,  that  the  great  State  of  New-York  has  no  Sabbath.  A 
Sabbath-going  people,  setting  out  for  the  West,  find  that  New- York, 
so  eminent  for  wealth  and  elevation  of  mind,  has  no  Sabbath  !  All 
is  busy — boats  are  plying — ware-houses  are  open — and  the  various 
cars  on  the  rail-roads  are  in  motion.  What  effect  is  thus  produced 
upon  these  minds  ?  Like  the  Mississippi,  when  the  Missouri  pours 
into  its  bosom  its  muddy  stream,  it  partakes  of  its  turbid  character,  and 
never  loses  it  till  it  is  merged  in  the  gulf  of  Mexico.  Is  not  a  remedy 
for  this  great  evil,  almost  a  national  undertaking,  reaching  as  it  does 
over  such  an  extent  of  country  ?  Now  if  we  can  get  at  the  question, 
let  us  do  it,  and  press  the  resolution  now.  I  was  prepared  to  offer 
something  definite  ;  but  I  am  not  at  all  tenacious  of  my  own  opinion. 
But  I  should  like  to  have  an  expressiipn  from  this  Convention,  to  know 
whether  they  will  choose  to  speak  of  particular  things,  and  bring 
their  influence  to  bear  against  particular  branches  of  Sabbath  break- 
ing.  Let  the  world  see  that  all  the  subjects  presented  as  great  evils, 
art  great  evils.  But  I  am  not  at  all  tenacious  of  this.  But  let  the  ex- 
pression of  the  Convention  be  taken,  so  that  some  course  of  action  may 
be  adopted. 

E.  D.  Smith,  Esq.,  hoped  the  resolution  would  be  passed.  No  one 
found  any  fault  with  it ;  and  it  seemed,  in  every  respect,  proper.  He 
thought  it  well  to  go  on  with  the  subject.  A  mere  motion  to  recommit, 
without  instructions,  would  amount  to  nothing  at  all. 

Rev.  Mr.  Powell,  of  Cincinnati,  said  that  he  wished  to  state  a  few- 
facts,  which  might  perhaps  have  a  bearing  on  this  resolution,  although 
he  designed  to  have  stated  them  in  another  connexion.  Most  of  the 
assembly,  he  said,  were  probably  aware  that  all  the  transportation 
lines  on  the  Pennsylvania  canals,  had  agreed  to  stop  running  on  the 
Sabbath  ;  and  seven  out  of  eight  of  the  boats  on  that  line  now  do  stop. 
A  brief  view  of  the  way  in  which  this  wa-s  brought  about,  may  throw 
light  on  the  best  method  ofaccomplishing  the  object  we  propose. 

The  Philadelphia  Sabbath  Association,  composed  principally  of 
mercantile  men,  originated  in  October  last.  I  went  to  Philadelphia 
an  entire  stranger,  and  introduced  the  matter  to  merchants  of  long 
standing  and  influence,  who  decidedly  took  a  leading  part  in  this  en- 
terprise.  They  drew  up  a  memorial,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy: 

"The  undersigned,  interested  in  the  Western  trade  of  Philadelphia, 
hereby  express  their  opinion  that  the  transportation  of  merchandize  by 
canals  and  rail-roads,  on  the  Sabbath,  is  unauthorised  by  any  ne- 
cessity, and  much  to  be  lamented  as  a  violation  of  the  law  of  God  ; 
and  its  discontinuance  is  recommended  to  the  proprietorsof  the  trans, 
portation  lines." 


61 

The  people  interested  in  the  trade  of  Philadelphia,  joined  in  ;  and 
the  business  men  took  the  subject  in  hand,  and  went  to  the  boat  pro- 
prietors, as  men  of  feeling,  and  judgment,  and  conscience — expressing 
respectfully  their  views  ;  and  they  succeeded.  The  fact,  as  men- 
tioned, seems  small  in  itself;  but  there  is  more  in  it  than  at  first 
meets  the  view.  In  some  places,  they  inserted  :  "  and  we  hereby 
pledge  oureclves  to  give  our  preference  to  those  boats  which  do  not 
labor  on  the  Sabbath."  On  my  second  visit  to  Philadelphia,  I  took 
occasion  to  say  to  a  brother  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  mat- 
ter, that  wc  had  chosen  to  adopt  stronger  measures  than  he  had.  He 
said  that  the  stronger  they  ap])eared  to  be,  the  weaker  they  were  in 
reality.  "If  you  utter  any  threat,"  said  he,  "  you  at  once  awaken 
opposition."  Now  I  believe — having  resided  for  some  six  ytars  in 
Western  New- York,  that  if  the  mercantile  men  will  take  hold  of  it, 
they  have  it  in  their  power  to  accomplish  the  object  in  a  very  short 
time,  if  they  OTly  go  to  work  in  a  proper  manner.  If  they  go  to  those 
they  would  influence,  as  men  of  feeling  and  conscience,  and  let  the 
business  men  of  Rochester  and  Buffalo  take  hold  of  the  subject,  the 
running  of.  boats  on  the  Sabbath,  will  cease  in  a  short  time.  The 
influence  of  stopping  ths  boats  on  this  great  pathway  of  national  com- 
merce, will  be  immense.  If  it  succeed  here,  it  will  be  at  once  agreed 
that  it  will  succeed  in  any  part  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  world. 

In  view  of  the  fearful  denunciations  of  the  Bible  against  Sabbath 
desecration — the  wrong  that  is  manifestly  inflicted  on  the  laborer  that 
is  required  to  toil  on  that  day — and  the  numerous  other  evils,  civil, 
social,  and  religious,  in  which  this  system  involves  individuals  and 
nations,  1  cannot  but  regard  the  holding  of  stock  in  companies  that 
use  it  on  the  Sabbath,  where  that  stock  is  taken  or  retained  for^  pecu- 
niary considerations,  as  a  violation  of  the  law  of  God. 

Nor  can  I  suppose  any  case  in  which  my  own  conscience  would 
be  clear  in  retaining  stock  in  companies  for  any  reason,  unless  I  gave  y 

.my  solemn  protest  against  its  being  employed  on  the  Sabbath,  accom-  ^ 

panied  with  a  disclaimer  of  all  participation  in  the  profits,  so  long  as 
the  stock  was  eniployed-on  the  Sabbath. 

But  my  objections  to  the  passage  of  the  resolution,  are  : 

1.  It  is  hastily  drawn  up;  and  there  is  not  time  after  that  point 
came  before  the  committeeor  the  Convention,  to  prepare  a  resolution 
with  that  care  that  the  nature  of  the  subject  demanded. 

2.  It  is  evident,  to  my  mind  at  least,  that  some  members  of  the 
Convention  are  not  prepared  to  carry  out  that  resolution  fully.  It  is 
much  better  to  do  more  than  we  resolve,  than  resolve  more  than  we 
do. 

3.  The  resolution  is  calculated  to  give  a  wrong  direction  to  the  action 
of  that  body,  and  to  the  future  action  of  the  individuals  who  composed 
it.  Every  reflecting  mind  is  convinced  that  Sabbath-labor  is  wrong 
— that  it  enslaves  both  body  and  mind — and  that  it  is  eminently  un- 
profitable. Only  give  the  right  direction  to  the  current  of  public 
sentiment,  and  it  will  be  but  a  very  short  time  before  boats  and  rail- 
road cars  will  cease  to  run  on  the  Sabbath. 

Let  us  not  then  spend  our  eff()rts  in  determining  the  question,  wheth- 
er a  few  conscientious  men  shall  withdraw  their  capital  from  our  rail- 


6a 

roads,  et  ceteras  ;  but  improve  this  favor  able  tide  in  public  opinion,  to> 
secure  a  general  cessation  of  Sabbath-labor  on  our.  great  internals 
thoroughfares. 

The  President  suggested  that  the  discussion  was  taking  too  wide  a.- 
latitude  for  a  question  of  recommitment.  The  only  subject  of  discus-, 
sion  was,  whether  the  particulars  designated  should  be  presented  in. 
a  separate  resolution^  or  embodied  in  this  general  one.  The  sole  dif- 
ference was  as  to  this  one  point — whether  it  were  better  to  present  it 
in  this  resolution,  or  in  a  separate  one. 

Rev.  Mr.  Stowe,  of  East-Bbomfield,  said  that,  iathe  few. remarks 
he  should  make,  he  should  confine  himself  to  the  reasons  why  the. 
Cfuestion  should  be  recommitted';  although  he  understood  that  no  in- 
structions  were  to  be  given  to  the  Committee. 

Rev.  Mr.  W-isner,  of  Lock  port,  said  that  he  moved  a  recommit-. 
ment,  that  the  resolution  might  be  made  more  specific. 

Mr.  SxcwEsaid  that,  if  he  understood  the  resolutions^ey  embodied.) 
the  general  pledge  by  which  the  conduct  of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath, 
were  to  be  regulated."  They  apply,  not  merely  to  us  in  Rochester 
or  in  the  State  of  New- York,  but  they,  embody  the  substance  of  the 
pledge  presented  to  every  Christian  in  the  habitable  globe.  Tlie  ob-. 
JGCt  of  the  Convention  ,,I;!e  understood  to  be,  to  move  the  world.;  .and  L 
rise,  said  he,  to  .sustain  the  motion*  We  are  pjaeed  in  the  situation 
af  the  great  men  who  framed  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  We 
are  now  acting  for  the  world — are  embodying  principles  for  all  Chris- 
tendom. Now  what  would  the  Declaration  of  Independence  hava 
availed,  if  it  had  confined  itself  to  generalities — if  it  had  said,  we  are-, 
in  favor  of  liberty,  without  saying  how  far  they  would  go  to  sustain  or. 
secure  their  rights  ?  It  is  the  very  definiteness  of  those  articles  which- 
gives  them  consequence  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  Suppose  the  Tern-/ 
perance  Pledge  had  been  .merely  aggneral  pledge  to  oppose  all  drunk- 
onness  :  should  we  have  seen  .the  reform  of  the  lasttwo  years  ?  Now 
if  .we  adopt  this  resolutioa — which  is  so  perfectly  general  that  every 
tnan,  the  post-master  and  <mail-agent,  may  adopt  it — what  is  to  be  the- 
effect  of  this  combination  ?  And  yet,  this  allows  the  darkest  .element 
of  Sabbath-breaking  to  remain.  It  allows  every  man  to  run  his  stage 
OS  open  his  offioe  on  the  Sabbath. 

Rev.  Mr.  Howard  said  the  discussion  had  already  taken  so  wide  a, 
range,  that  he  knew  not  where  if  could  be  well  arrested.  He  said  he 
was  opposed  to  the  threatening  attitude  proposed  to 'be  assumed  by 
members  of  the  Convention  ;  as  he  feared  it  would  .be  productive  oS 
injury  rather  than  good.  He  hoped  the  motion  to  recommit,  would 
not  pass  ;  but  that  the  resolution  would  be  adopted,  and  then  some- 
thing more  specific  added^  if  desirable.  This  was  a-  pledge  which  all ! 
could  take. 

Dr.  LucKEY  said  he  wished-  to  inquire  of  the  Business  Committee,; 
whether  they  intended  to  report  the  more  specific  resolution  which  had 
been  referred  to  them. 

Rev.  Mr.  Stillm.\n  said  it  had  not  yet  been  reached. 
Dr.  LucKEY  must  decline  voting  until  something  could  be  known  as 
to  this  point.     He  said  that  there  could  be  no  difficulty  in  passing  this 
resolution,  and  then  introducing  another,  if  the  committee  did  not  see 


63 

fit  to  report  one.  He  would,  himself,  move  tosuspciid  tlic  rules,  to 
enable  anyone  who  wished  to  differ  such  a  resolution.  It  seemed  to 
him-that  there  could  bo  no  objection'ta  passing  the  resolution. 

RpC'v.  Mr.  WisNKR  asked  leave  to  withdraw  the  motion  to  recommit. 
Leave  was  granted,  and  the  motion  was  withdrawn. 

The  question  then  recurred  on  the  resolution. . 

Rev.  Mr.  Stillmax  said  that  during  the  progress  of  the  present 
discussion,  he  had  been  doubting  whether  we  lived  in  the  year  1842. 
Had  I  s\ipposed  that  this  Convention  was  called  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  determining  wiiat  Sabbath  desecration  is,  I  could  have  em- 
ployed ray  time  better  than  in  attending  upon  its  deliberations. 

l)he  Circular  which  has  invited  us  together,  has  appended  to  it  the 
signatures  of  a  large  number  of  men  embarked  in  business  which  re- 
quires them,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  violate  the  fourth  com- 
mandment. They  are  forwarding  merchants— owners  of  boats,ware- 
houses,  and  rail-road  stock — stage  and  rail-road  agents — and  the  post- 
master, of  this  city.  AVhat  did  they  desire  us  to  do?  To  decide 
whether  Sabb<ith-breaking.is  sinful  ?  No  : .  they  understand  that  per- 
fectly well.  To  express  an  opinion  that  the  various  forms  of  busi- 
ness ia  which  they  are  engaged,  is  Sabbalh-br^aking  ?  By  no  means; 
for  it  is  a  decided  conviction  of  this,  that  gave  rise  to  the  call.  In 
attempting  a  personal  and  social  reform,  they  find  themselves  involv- 
ed in  a  difficulty,  which  results  from  two  causes  :.  a  want  of  concen- 
trated action,  and  also  a  want  of  public  conscience  ;  and  they  call- 
ed on  the  friends  of'the  Sabbath,  to  convene  in  this  city  on  the  20th 
day  of  July,  to  assist  them  in  cxtricaiing  themselves  from  the  diffi- 
culty. .  How  shall  this  aid  be  afibrded  ?  By  a  resolution  composed  of 
specifications?  That  certainly  can  do  nothing  ;  for  all  that  is  to  be 
gained  in  this  way,  ia  gained  already.  We  shall  accomplish  the  end 
desired,  if  an  inflnence  pnoceeds  from  this  Convention,  which  shall 
give  direction  to  public  sentiment,  and  control  public  conscience,  and 
awaken  a  ssnse  of  personal,  social,  and  civil  responsibility  to  the  Au- 
thor ot  the  high  mandate  concerning  the  9abbath,day.. 

I  hope,  therefore,  the  house  will  consent  to  let  this  resolution  pass 
as  it  is,  with  little  or  no  discussion  ;  and  then  I  think  we  shall  be  pre- 
pared to  learn  something  from  the  fouwarders  themselves,  who  speak 
from  the  impressions  oi*  common-sense,  and  from  a  view  of  the  rela- 
tion, of  the  laws  of  nature,  to  the  laws  of  God.  If  the  natural  course 
of  b'jsiness  be  followed  in  the  Convention,  I  apprehend  we  shall  find 
that  the  forwarders  and  boatmen,  on  all  these  points,  axe  five  years  in 
advance  of  public  sentiment. 

Mr.  Starr  believed  that  the  Convention  had  been  acting  without 
information  which  ought  to  be  spread  before  them,  before  they  pro- 
ceeded farther.  Gentlemen  were  here,  who  had  been  engaged  for 
months  in  the  business,  and  knew  more  about  it,  than  the  whole  house 
besides.  Perhaps,  after  hearing  their  statements,  the  definite  course 
proposed,  would  be  taken.  He  wished  then,  that  their  statements 
might  be  heard,  and  papers  from  forwarders  and  others,  read  in  reply 
to  certain  queries  proposed  to  them. 

Dr.  LucKFA'  moved  that  the  resolution  under  discussion,  lie  on  the 
table  until  the  papers  were  read,  and  the  information  obtained. 


64 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Luckey,  the  information  was  asked  for. 

Rev.  Mr.  Curry  said  that  for  the  last  ten  years  he  had  been  broughl 
in  contact  with  persons  engaged  in  this  matter,  and,  said  he,  I  hav( 
learned  enough  of  the  opinions  they  entertain,  to  upset  all  the  notions 
I  cherished  before  ;  and  such  also,  as  brother  Wisner  and  others  in 
the  Convention,  have  adopted.  This  is  the  experience  of  practical 
men,  and  is  not  to  be  put  down  by  those  who  are  entirely  unacquainted 
with  the  facts  of  the  case. 

Mr.  WiSJS'ER,  of  Ithaca,  regretted  that  he  had  detained  the  Conven- 
tion so  long — purely  out  of  his  ignorance  of  the  subject — when  his 
brother  (Mr.  Curry)  had  information  at  the  time,  which  would  have 
enlightened  him  at  once  on  all  these  points.  He  thought  it  cruel  in 
his  brother  to  have  thus  far  kept  it  to  himself. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  read  by  Mr.  Stillman,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  That  it  is  the  decided  conviction  of  this  body,  that  if  those  who 
profess  to  be  Christians,  and  to  respect  the  laws  of  God,  would  avoid 
all  violations  of  the  fourth  commandment,  by  their  personal  example 
and  their  business  arrangements,  one  of  the  great  obstacles  to  a  tho- 
rough reform,  would  be  I'emoved." 

Rev.  Mr.  Stillman  said  that  facts  would  sustain  this  assertion. 
He  had  been  Corresponding  Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  A- 
merican  Bethel  Society,  about  three  years.  At  first,  he  supposed  the 
boatmen  were  mainly  responsible  for  the  want  of  a  Sabbath  upon  our 
canals.  But,  after  some  month's  experience,  he  learned  that  his 
views  were  radically  incorrect.  The  incidents  he  was  about  to  re- 
late, had  brought  him  to  this  conclusion. 

I  was  in  a  forwarding-house  in  Albany,  in  the  spring  of  1840  ;  the 
agent  was  a  respected  Christian  brother  ;  we  had  a  long  and  inter- 
esting conversation  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath  desecration  on  the  Erie 
canal.  Our  conversation  ending,  a  deck  hand,  who  had  been  an  at- 
tentive listener,  approached  me,  saying,  "  Sir,  I  perceive  you  have 
not  taken  hold  of  this  matter  at  the  right  end."  On  my  expressing 
a  willingness  to  learn  from  him,  he  added,  "  I  think  you  had  better 
go  out  West,  and  convert  the  Church  over  again  ;  for  many  of  them 
will  sell  their  consciences  for  two  cents  on  a  cwt.  of  transportation." 
I  could  not  but  regard  this  as  a  grave  and  serious  charge,  if  not  a 
malicious  slander  upon  the  Church  ;  and  asked  him  to  explain  him- 
self. He  then  named  a  Christian  merchant,  who  is  one  of  a  commit- 
tee whose  business  it  is  to  visit  the  boats  on  the  Sabbath,  distribute 
tracts,  and  invite  them  to  stop  and  visit  the  sanctuary  where  they  can 
"  hear  of  heaven,  and  learn  the  way;"  and,  said  this  man,  after 
commencing  a  negotiation  to  have  his  merchandize  forwarded  by  a 
Sabbath-keeping  line,  at  a  given  price — because  he  could  get  it  done 
by  a  Sabbath-breaking  line,  at  two  cents  cheaper  per  cwt.,  he  em- 
ployed the  latter ;  and  one  load,  at  least,  of  his,  was  landed  at  his 
place  of  residence  on  the  Sabbath. 

Last  season,  in  conversation  with  an  intelligent  captain,  I  said,  I 
hope  the  time  will  come  when  you  boatmen  will  be  permitted  to  en- 
joy that  day  of  rest  which  God  has  made  for  man.     He  remarked, 


65 

"You  are  hoping  against  hope."  "What  makes  you  think  so  ?"  said 
I.  He  then  took  out  his  bill  of  lading,  and  said,  "You  sec,  here, 
I  am  freighted  with  merchandize  for  nine  diflerent  mercantile  estab- 
lishments— three  in  Western  New- York,  three  in  Ohio,  and  three  in 
Michigan :  and  I  have  learned  from  my  passengers,  that  seven  of 
them  arc  professing  Christians,  and  they  send  their  goods  by  a  Sab- 
bath-breaking line,  expecting  to  get  them  one  day  sooner."  I  inquir- 
ed what  motive  influenced  him  to  inquire  after  the  Christian  cliarac- 
ter  of  men  whom  he  never  expected  to  meet.  He  replied,  "  I  was 
looking  to  see  if  any  light  was  likely  to  shine  upon  the  boatmen  ;  and 
I  am  forced  to  confess,  that  for  these  reasons,  all  is  yet  darkness." 

Another  boat  captain  said  to  me,  "  I  think  you  ministers  and 
church-members  know  but  little  about  this  subject.  Look  at  Roch- 
ester. If  the  Christian  millers  in  that  city,  would  take  a  decided 
stand,  and  say.  Not  one  barrel  of  our  flour  shall  go  to  market  on 
any  boat  that  does  not  scrupulously  regard  the  Sabbath,  the  last 
boat  that  would  ever  disturb  the  surface  of  the  Erie  canal  on  the 
Sabbath,  has  passed."  He  then  proceeded  to  show  me  that  the  a- 
mount  of  business  controlled  by  these  men,  was  so  great,  and  it  v/as 
so  much  of  an  object  sometimes  to  secure  it,  that  the  owners  of  boats 
would  be  compelled  to  lay  up  on  the  Sabbath.  If  this  is  true,  who 
can  estimate  the  responsibility  of  this  city,  in  relation  to  the  subject 
before  us  ? 

In  some  portions  of  our  country,  public  sentiment  has  changed  the 
whole  face  of  things  in  this  respect. 

Take,  for  example,  the  steam-boat  routes  from  New- York  city, 
eastward  through  Long  Island  Sound.  There,  the  whole  business  of 
the  Sabbath  desecration  is  abandoned,  unless  it  be  an  hour  or  two  be- 
fore dawn  on  the  Sabbath  morning,  to  reach  their  place  of  destina- 
tion. Not  even  for  carrying  the  mails,  do  the  boats  move.  About 
a  year  since  an  express  from  Washington,  with  despatches  to  the  A- 
merican  Minister  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  was  on  its  way  to  Bos- 
ton, to  reach  a  steam-packet  about  to  sail  for  England.  In  conse- 
quence of  there  being  no  mail  on  the  Sabbath,  on  those  eastern  routes, 
these  despatches,  together  with  hundreds  of  letters,  were  detained 
for  two  weeks.  Infidelity  and  irreligion,  upon  this,  became  so  clam- 
orous, that  the  Post-master  General  supposed  himself  compelled  to 
re-establish  the  Sabbath  mail  in  that  direction.  The  steam-boat 
company  from  New- York  to  New-Haven,  were  under  contract  to  car- 
ry the  mail  between  those  cities,  six  days  in  the  week,  for  $S;000 ; 
but  they  would  not  agree  to  carry  it  for  fifty-two  Sabbaths,  without 
$17,000  additional.  And  this  because  they  must  go  for  the  mail  a- 
lone ;  for  few,  if  any,  passengers  there  would  travel  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  next  link  in  the  chain,  viz. :  the  rail-road  from  New-Haven  to 
Hartford,  would  not  give  any  terms,  by  which  they  would  be  requir- 
ed to  run  on  that  day.  Applications  were  subsequently  made  by  the 
routes  to  Norwich,  Stonington,  and  Providence,  and  were  alike  un- 
successful. 

For  these  statements,  I  have  only  newspaper  authority :  but  what 
do  they  prove  ?    Why,  that  public  sentiment  there  most  fully  sustains 
those  who  dare  not  violate  the  fourth  commandment  j  and,  it  might 
5  ,   ,.    - 


e6 

easily  be  proved  that  public  sentiment  there,  is  directed,  if  not  con- 
trolied,  by  the  consistent  example  of  professing  Christians  ;  and  the 
owners  of  stock  had  found  out  that  their  true  interest  lay  in  their  aid- 
ing to  sustain  this  public  sentiment.  But  why  bring  forward  a  reso- 
lution of  this  kind,  which  is  calculated  to  lower  the  ministry  and  the 
Cliurch  in  public  estimation,  and  put  a  weapon  in  the  hands  of  infi- 
delity ?  For  one,  I  feel  no  desire  to  bring  a  railing  accusation  a- 
gainst  any  who  profess  the  religion  of  Christ.  From  personal  inter- 
course with  many  who  have  lent  the  influence  of  their  personal  ex- 
ample, to  sustain  Sabbath  desecration,  I  am  satisfied,  that  most,  if  not 
all  of  them,  sin  ignorantly.  Tliey  do  not  feel  conscious  of  the  mag- 
nitude of  this  evil,  nor  the  effect  of  their  influence  in  perpetuating  it. 
They  always  flatter  themselves  that  there  is  something  peculiar  in 
their  case,  which  amounts  to  a  justification.  And  thus,  doubtless, 
many  will  contiime  to  feel,  until  the  entire  system  is  broken  up. 
Probably  not  a  Sabbath  passes,  but  some  professing  Christians  may 
be  found  on  these  thoroughfares.  Last  Sabbath  I  spent  at  Schenec- 
tady. I  saw  the  approaching  and  departing  trains  of  rail-road  cars. 
As  I  gazed  upon  the  evening  train  from  Albany,  about  the  going 
down  of  the  sun,  there  were  but  fev/  passengers — perhaps  fifteen  or 
twenty — and,  of  these,  three  were,  to  my  knowledge,  professors  of  re- 
liffion — two  from  one  church  in  Ohio,  and  one  from  a  church  in  West- 
ern New-York,  whose  pastor  is  present. 

Almost  every  week,  complaints  are  poured  into  our  ears  froiB 
boatmen,  of  the  inconsistencies  of  professors  of  religion.  Sometimes 
they  display  great  sagacity  in  finding  out  these  things.  They  will, 
in  some  way,  ascertain  the  religious  character  of  passengers — get 
their  church  relations ;  and,  when  the  Sabbath  arrives,  if  they  re- 
main onboard,  a  record  is  made  of  the  fact ;  and  the  particular  case 
is  put  in  a  situation  to  be  made  known.  We  should  be  unwilling  to 
'•tell  in  Gath,  or  publish  in  the  streets  of  Askelon,"  facts  which  we 
know  of  this  kind. 

I  once  had  my  attention  directed  to  the  register  of  names  kept  on 
the  island  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  was  especially  pointed  to  a  name 
under  date  of  a  Sabbath,  which  was  the  name  of  a  D.  D.  in  New- 
England.  The  church  and  minister  in  that  village,  knew  not  of  his 
having  been  there  ;  and  would  have  been  exceedingly  rejoiced  to  re- 
ceive instruction  from  his  lips. 

Within  two  years,  I  have  conversed  with  a  large  proportion  of  the 
forwarders  upon  our  canals,  in  reference  to  the  stopping  of  boats  oa 
the  Sabbath.  From  a  large  majority  of  them,  I  have  met  no  opposi- 
tion ;  for  their  common-sense  notions  of  propriety,  pronounced  my 
views  correct.  One  who,  at  that  time,  wielded  more  influence,  per- 
haps, than  any  other,  did  express  it,  as  his  opinion,  that  nay  views, 
carried  out,  would  do  an  immense  injury  to  the  boatmen,  because 
they  would  congregate  about  the  locks  and  horse-stations,  and  com- 
mit  vastly  more  sin,  than  they  could  possibly  do,  by  moving  along. 
}t  was  in  vain  I  pointed  him  to  the  law  of  God,  and  to  that  declara- 
tion of  Scripture,  "  in  keeping  of  thy  commandments,  there  is  great 
reward,"  and  predicted  that  he  would  ultimately  find  that  the  wealth 
he  had  acquired  by  desecrating  the  Sabbath,  was  "  put  into  a  bag 


67 

with  holes,"  and  tha*.  God  would  blow  upon  it.  Now,  although  he 
will  not  acknowledge  my  doctrine,  he  is  forced  to  admit  that  his 
wealth  has  gone  to  the  winds. 

The  providence  of  God,  in  a  variety  of  ways,  has  smiled  upon  ef- 
forts to  i>ave  the  Sabbath  from  desecration.  The  example  of  individ- 
uals has  been  of  great  avail.  Take  an  example.  On  the  breaking 
up  of  our  national  Cabinet  last  autumn,  when  the  Hon.  Mr.  Critten- 
den and  his  family,  together  with  some  members  of  the  Senate  and 
Congress  of  these  United  States,  were  returning  to  their  homes  iu 
the  West ;  and  on  reaching  a  landing  place  on  the  Ohio  river  on  Sat- 
urday night,  Mrs.  C,  it  seems,  determined  to  make  a  manifestation 
of  her  Christian  principles.  She  did  not  begin,  as  I  might  have  done, 
with  reproaches  for  their  forgetfulness  of  God,  and  want  of  reverence 
for  his  law  ;  but  silently  determined  that,  let  the  rest  of  the  company 
do  as  they  would,  she  must  go  ashore.  The  noiseless  influence  of 
her  consistent,  Christian  example,  so  commended  itself  to  the  captain 
and  her  fellow-passengers,  that  the  boat  remained  there  till  the  Sab- 
bath was  passed ;  and  her  influence,  thus  exerted,  will  be  felt 
throughout  that  valley,  till  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  shall  cease  to 
flow  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Now,  such  an  influence  as  this,  we 
may  frequently  exert,  and  no  man  can  estimate  its  extent.  Go,  then, 
and  do  likewise.  Total  abstinence — the  glorious  principle  of  the 
temperance  reform — must  be  introduced,  in  reference  to  this  matter. 

I  might  allude  to  a  great  variety  of  facts  ;  all  of  which  would  cor- 
roborate that  view  of  this  subject,  which  is  taken  in  the  resolution  be- 
fore us.  One  of  these  facts  came  out  yesterday  in  the  letter  of  an 
old  sailor,  which  was  then  read.  Nor  can  we  be  surprised  that  Sab- 
bath-keeping  men  are  sought  for  by  our  commercial  men.  The  in- 
cidents related  yesterday  by  my  friend  from  Cleveland,  (Mr.  Kings- 
bury,) speak  volumes  in  praise  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the  consciences 
of  men  who  keep  it.  On  our  canals,  the  question  has  been  directly- 
put  to  more  than  20,000  of  boatmen  ;  and,  with  two  exceptions,  all 
seem  most  earnestly  to  desire  a  Sabbath.  I  have  been  repeatedly 
entreated  by  them  to  go  to  the  Canal  Commissioners,  and  plead  their 
cause,  as  the  cause  of  the  oppressed,  and  ask  them  to  close  the  locks 
on  the  Sabbath-day.  I  have  a  number  of  times  endeavored  to  com- 
ply with  their  requests,  but  did  not  succeed  till  last  spring,  when  I 
had  a  patient  hearing.  Subsequently,  the  same  subject  came  before 
them  in  the  shape  of  a  petition  from  Whitehall ;  and  on  the  26th  of 
May,  the  board  answered  it.  In  their  answer,  they  expressed  a  wil- 
lingness to  close  the  locks,  when  there  should  be  no  necessity  for  o- 
pening  them.  But,  perhaps,  it  is  better,  in  this  connexion,  to  read  ^ 
the  report  itself,  than  to  make  any  comments  upon  it.  / 

Albany,  May  26, 1842. 
Gentlemen : 

The  Canal  Board  have  received  and  considered  your  petition 
of  the  30th  of  April,  in  which  you  £isk  the  Board  to  instruct  the  col- 
lector of  canal  tolls  at  Whitehall,  to  withhold  clearances  on  the  Sab- 
bath, from  boats  navigating  on  that  canal. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  every  portion  of  the  community  is  not 


68 

convinced  that  the  Sabbath  is  an  institution  pecuHarly  adapted  to 
the  reUgious,  moral,  and  physical  wants  and  necessities  of  man. 

This  conviction,  however,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Canal  Board,  can 
neither  be  created  nor  strengthened  by  mandatory  regulaations. 
Moral  means,  by  precept  and  example,  are  alone  efficacious. 

The  statute  of  this  State,  prohibiting  travelling  and  servile  labor 
on  the  Sabbath,  is  nearly  a  dead  letter  ;  and,  like  similar  regulations, 
its  rigid  enforcement  would  create  more  immorality  than  it  would 
suppress.  The  secular  arm  has  always  been  a  poor  coadjutor  of 
both  morality  and  religion.  It  can  make  thousands  of  hypocrites, 
but  not  one  genuine  proselyte.  Public  sentiment,  created  by  the 
influence  of  the  wise  and  the  good,  is  the  great  regulator  of  the 
public  morality. 

If  the  boatmen  can  be  prevailed  upon  to  suspend  their  labors  on 
the  Sabbath,  the  Canal  Board  will  be  much  gratified  at  the  arrange- 
ment, and  will  direct  the  suspension  of  the  labors  of  the  collectors 
and  lock-tenders,  on  that  day.  But,  whilst  they  are  intent  upon 
pursuing  their  labors  on  that  day,  a  prohibitory  regulation,  instead 
of  awakening  their  moral  feeling,  would  only  excite  their  opposition 
and  resentment. 

This  is,  in  short,  the  impression  which  the  Canal  Board  have  felt 
on  the  subject,  and  which  they  have  instructed  me  to  communicate. 

S.  YOUNG, 

President,  fro.  tern. 

Similar  to  this,  I  fear,  will  be  the  result  of  all  applications  for  re- 
lief from  that  source.  They  feel  a  regard  for  the  Sabbath,  and  are 
willing  to  express  it,  but  they  doubt  the  wisdom  of  legal  enactments 
en  such  a  subject ;  and  when  they  assert  that  public  sentiment  must 
be  the  law,  and  that  the  people  must  redress  such  grievances  as  are 
complained  of,  they  express  the  feelings  of  many  wise  and  good  men. 
I  know  the  people  can  do  it :  I  fully  believe  the  people  v/ill  do  it ; 
and  may  God  grant  this  Convention  may  do  much  to  give  public 
sentiment  a  proper  direction. 

Deacon  Eaton  said  that  he  had  been  a  canal  missionary  for  two 
or  three  years,  and  he  had  been  able  to  learn  the  feelings  of  the 
boatmen  on  this  subject.  He  said  that,  generally,  their  language  is, 
"  Give  us  the  Sabbath."  This,  he  thought,  was  the  desire  of  seven- 
eighths  of  them.  They  say  they  are  driven  to  work  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  now  know  no  other  way.  It  is  very  generally  believed  that  the 
canal  boatmen  are  infidels ;  but  there  is  not  half  as  much  infidelity 
there,  as  in  small  villages.  There  are  few  but  befieve  in  the  obliga- 
tion of  God's  word.  A  few  days  ago,  a  canSil-boat  captain — on  my 
telling  him  that  I~-was  coming  to  this  Convention — said  that  he 
wished  he  had  time  to  stop  :  he  wished  to  ask  the  Convention  that 
they  would  devise  some  way  in  which  the  canal  men  could  enjoy  the 
Sabbath.  He  said  he  was  not  a  Christian,  and  thought  he  never 
should  be,  until  he  could  have  the  Sabbath.  This  is  the  general  ex- 
pression  of  them  all. 

It  is  charged  upon  many  who  lay  up  their  boats  on  the  Sabbath, 
that  they  spend  the  day  in  card-playing  ;  but  I  have  never  known  an 


instance  of  this  kind.  There  are  now  a  great  many  private  boats 
that  keep  the  Sabbath. 

A  captain  at  Rome,  told  mc  that  both  he  and  his  wife  had  lately 
experienced  religion ;  but  he  was  forced  to  run  his  boat  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  he  had  almost  lost  his  hope. 

It  is  time  that  the  Church  M'as  purified  of  this  sin.  If  it  could  be 
done,  the  influence  would  be  most  salutary.  This  Convention  is  one 
which  I  have  long  desired  to  see  ;  and  it  is  probably  the  last  of  the 
kind  I  shall  ever  attend.  I  hope  it  will  effect  something  towards 
preventing  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hopkins,  of  Auburn,  said  that  he  wished  to  make  one 
remark,  with  reference  to  what  Mr.  Stilljian  had  said,  and  to  thank 
hizn  for  the  information  he  has  given  me,  as  well  as  to  suggest  a  plan 
to  stop  this  evil.  Not  long  since,  I  received  a  letter  from  New- York, 
written  to  notify  me  that  a  member  of  my  church  had  left  that  city 
on  Sunday  morning,  in  a  boat  for  Albany.  I  took  the  letter,  and  be- 
gan to  inquire  what  it  was  best  to  do,  and  how  I  should  find  out 
who  it  was.  I  finally  took  the  letter  into  the  pulpit,  and  told  the 
congregation  that  it  was  f>om  an  excellent  man  in  New-York,  who 
wrote  to  me  that  a  member  of  my  church  had  left  that  city  in  a  boat 
on  Sunday  morning.  I  folded  it  up,  and  went  on  preaching.  Be- 
fore Saturday  night,  I  was  called  upon  by  Ihrcc  members  of  my 
church,  each  one  inquiring  if  I  alluded  to  him  !  This  may  suggest 
a  method  of  arresting  the  evil. 

Mr.  Whitney  wished  to  make  a  further  statement,  with  reference 
to  carrying  the  mail  on  the  Massachusetts  Western  rail-road.  The 
Post-master  General  was  not  satisfied  with  the  terms  on  which  the 
company  oflered  to  do  it,  and  brought  the  matter  before  the  Massa- 
chusetts legislature.  Their  Committee  on  Rail-roads  reported  that 
the  Post-master  General  had  made  a  liberal  offer,  and  the  company 
ought  to  accept  it.  Still,  the  directors  refused,  and  Harnden's  Ex- 
press was  employed  to  take  the  Sabbath  mail,  which  now  goes  from 
New- York,  by  way  of  Springfield.  And  this  Post-master  General  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Captain  Grant,  of  Troy,  said  that  he  was  brought  up  a  boatman 
on  the  North  River,  and  had  been  for  some  years  a  forwarder, 
though  he  was  not  now.  For  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  he  had  been 
a  distributer  of  tracts  on  the  boats.  He  agreed,  he  said,  very  nearly, 
with  what  had  already  been  said  ;  and  thought  the  great  thing  was 
to  get  the  Church  right  on  the  subject.  He  found  more  difficulty  in 
getting  church  members  to  stop  travelling  on  the  Sabbath,  than  in 
any  thing  else.  We  have  succeeded  this  year  in  getting  one  estab- 
lishment to  discontinue  running  boats  on  the  Sabbath,  but  it  was 
with  great  difficulty  :  they  say  that  Christians  do  not  support  them 
in  their  efforts.  Still,  there  are  many  true  men  among  them,  who 
will  sacrifice  every  thing  for  the  sake  of  stopping  this  great  evil. 
All  we  need  to  carry  forward  the  work,  is  more  consistent  action. 
Even  if  Christians  have  to  pay  a  few  cents  more  for  transportation 
on  a  Sabbath-keeping  line,  they  should  do  it :  thus  a  competition  will 
be  created,  which  will,  in  the  end,  secure  the  establishment  of  these 
lines  ;  but  thus  far,  they  have  been  run  at  a  continual  sacrifice  :  they 


70 

have  not  been  well  sustained.  One  of  them  has  been  started  on  the 
Northern  canal  ;  and  we  have  got  a  line  of  tow-boats  on  the  North 
River,  which  does  not  labor  on  the  Sabbath.  The  boatmen  are 
better  prepared  for  the  reform,  than  is  generally  believed.  The  fer^ 
ry  at  Troy  never  makes  money  on  the  Sabbath  ;  for  public  opinion 
is  so  thoroughly  against  it,  that  few  cross.  In  our  whole  section  of 
country  they  are  anxious  for  a  change.  Nor  do  I  feel  at  all  discour- 
aged by  the  refusal  of  the  legislature  to  close  the  locks.  We  have 
the  right  on  our  side,  and  must  ultimately  succeed. 

Judge  Sampson  suggested  that,  though  these  statements  were  in- 
teresting,  there  was  yet  a  good  deal  of  business  to  be  done  ;  and  he 
feared  that  the  session  of  the  Convention  must  be  brought  to  a  close 
to-day,  as  many  would  be  forced  to  go  home.  He  moved,  therefore, 
that  the  unfinished  business  of  the  Convention  be  taken  up. 

Mr.  Starr  hoped  the  motion  would  not  pass  :  there  was  yet  much 
to  be  said  on  the  subject,  and  he  wished  to  have  it  thoroughly  discuss- 
ed. He  held  in  his  hand  replies  from  two  forwarders  in  this  city,  to 
certain  queries  proposed  to  them  ;  and  if  the  Convention  was  not  in 
haste  to  adjourn,  he  would  present  them. 

Judge  Sampson  withdrew  his  motion,  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  the 
letters  read. 

Mr.  Starr  said  he  desired  first  to  get  an  expression  from  the  Con- 
vention, as  to  the  wish  about  remaining  in  session  another  day. 

On  motion  of  Judge  Wilkeson,  it  was  decided  to  be  expedient  to 
close  the  session  on  that  day. 

Judge  Howell,  of  Canandaigua,  said  he  could  see  no  reason  for 
remaining  in  session  longer.  He  had  listened  with  great  interest, 
and  yet  with  some  impatience,  to  what  was  said.  He  regretted  to  see 
such  a  disposition  to  talk.  Why  not  take  up  the  business  on  the 
plan  reported  by  the  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  go  on 
and  finish  it  ?  The  Convention  had  received  all  tlie  information  they 
would  be  likely  to  get.  He  renewed  the  motion,  therefore,  to  re- 
sume the  unfinished  business. 

Dr.  LucKEY  said  he  should  vote  for  the  motion,  as  he  could  not 
conceive  what  connexion  the  letters  had  with  the  resolution  before 
the  house. 

The  motion  was  carried ;  and  the  question  was  then  on  the 
twelfth  resolution,  and,  on  being  taken,  the  resolution  was  unanimous- 
!y  adopted. 

The  thirteenth  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

13.  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  respectfully  and  earnestly  request 
the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  throughout  the  country,  and  throughout 
the  world,  to  enter  into  a  similar  agreement ;  and  to  do  what  may  be 
most  useful  in  obtaining  the  names,  and  making  known  the  numbers 
who  are  willing  thus  to  give  to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  the 
support  of  their  individual  and  united  example  and  influence. 

This  was  also  adopted  unanimously. 
The  fourteenth  resolution  was  then  read  : 

14.  Resolved,  That  in  the  forming  of  local  associations,  wherever 
they  may  be  thought  to  be  best,  for  the  promotion  of  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  it  be  recommended  that  the  form  of  agreement  and  the 


71 

course  of  cfTorts  bo  such  as  will  most  extensively  promote  the  due 
observance  of  that  day  ;  and  that  tliey  arircc  especially  lo  abstain 
trom  those  violations  which  are  most  prevalent  among  themselves. 

The  question  vkls  taken,  and  the  resolution  was  adopted  unani- 
mously. 

The  fifteenth  resolution  was  then  read  : 

15.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  conviction  of  this  body,  that  if  those 
who  profess  to  be  Chrislians  and  to  respect  the  laws  of  God,  will  con- 
scientiously abstain  from  all  violations  of  the  fourth  commandmcnr, 
both  by  their  )x;rsonal  example  and  their  business  arrangements,  the 
greatest  obstacle  to  the  success  of  tiiis  enterprise,  will  bo  removed. 

•ludge  Howell  said  that  he  was  not  prepared  to  say,  by  his  vote, 
that  the  greatest  obstacle  to  tlie  keeping  of  the  Sabbath,  was  the 
Church.  It  iiiiirht  be  true  ;  but  he  was  not  prepared  to  say  so.  He 
suggested  that  the  words  "  a  ijrcat,"  l>e  substituted  ;  and  the  Busin- 
ess (Committee  said  they  would  accept  the  amendment. 

Mr.  Powell,  of  Cincinnati,  said  that  he  would  vote  for  the  resolu- 
tion, as  amended,  but  he  thought  its  force  destroyed. 

Judge  Howell  said  that  the  gentleman  was  out  of  order,  as  the  o- 
riginal  resolution  was  not  a  subject  of  debate,  the  amendment  having 
been  acjcepted. 

The  President  decided  that  the  original  resolution  zcas  under  de- 
bate— as  the  committee  had  no  power  to  accept  the  amendment — the 
resolution  having  passed  to  the  house. 

Rev.  Tryon  Edwards  moved  to  strike  out  the  amendment  of 
Judge  Howell,  and  insert  in  the  origina,l  resolution,  the  words  "  oiic 
of  the  greatest  obstacles,"  instead  of  "  the  greatest  obstacle." 

Rev.  Mr.  Galcsha  said  that  he  was  opposed  to  the  amend  men*.. 
He  liked  the  directness  of  tiie  original  resolution.  It  is  sucli  lan- 
guage as  Christ  used,  in  sjx?aking  of  the  agency  tliat  is  to  convert  tlie 
world.  What  did  he  say  to  his  disciples  ?  You  are  part  of  the  light 
of  the  world  ?  No  !  You  are  the  light  of  the  world  :  you  are  the 
salt  of  the  earth.  I  verily  believe,  said  Mr.  Galxisha,  that  if  the 
Church  would  let  her  light  shine,  and  there  was  no  cloud  to  obstruct 
her  rays — there  is  not  a  national  vice  that  could  stand  before  her. 
It  would  -wither  as  if  struck  by  the  lightning  of  heaven.  Let  the 
Church* be  pure  and  upright,  and  she  would  control  the  world.  Reli- 
gion rules  tlie  world  now.  if  it  be  false,  the  world  is  corrupt — if 
true,  it  sends  forth  a  healthful  influence.  The  Church  of  Christ  may 
be  regarded  as  a  great  steam-engine.  If  rigiitly  directed,  it  draws 
the  wliolo  train  alter  it  in  a  proper  manner.  If  she  is  corrupt,  the 
whole  world  sinks  into  moral  pollution.  Now,  shall  not  the  Cburch 
of  God  be  cleansed  ?  I  believe  that  Christ  has  lodged  in  the  Church 
a  sufficient  power  to  reform  the  world,  and  if  it  were  exerted,  the 
world  would  speedily  be  reformed.  Remove  the  obstacle  of  the 
Church,  and  every  other  obstacle  would  give  way  at  once.  I  say  of 
this  as  an  old  preacher  used  to  say  of  moral  inability:  "  We  hear 
a  great  deal  of  the  can  not,''  said  he  ;  "  but  if  men  will  only  untie  the 
will  not,  the  can  not  will  come  apart  like  a  lotc  knot."  If  I  under- 
stand the  matter,  the  Church  is  the  great  reforming  power  ;  and  if 
she  was  untrue  to  her  high  trust,  the  obstacle   is  insurmountable. 


72 

Remove  that  out  of  the  way,  and  all  others  will  be  powerless.  We 
have  been  apologizing  for  the  infirmities  of  human  nature,  and  the 
selfishness  of  the  human  heart,  till  we  have  not  got  a  sin  in  the  land 
that  is  not  endorsed  by  the  Church  of  Christ :  she  has  become^ 
well  nigh  bankrupt  in  character ;  and  has  lost  her  power,  because  she 
has  lost  her  purity. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisner,  of  Ithaca,  said  that  he  was  sorry  to  intrude  on 
the  attention  of  those  who  seemed  to  have  their  minds  made  up  ;  but 
he  was  in  favor  of  the  amendment,  and  should  be  sorry  to  have  the? 
resolution  pass  without  it.     I  am  prepared,  said  he,  to  appreciate  the 
remarks  of  brother  Galusha,  that  the  Church  is  the  great  instrument 
of  God  for  reforming  the  world ;  but  he  would  seek  to  reform  the 
v/orld  by  taking  it  out  of  the  Church,  and  giving  it  into  the  hands  of 
this  body.     Now,  what  is  this  body  ?     Is  it  the  Church  of  Christ  met 
together  to  reform  itself?     No  Sir.     It  is  a  convention  of  citizens 
from  different  parts  of  the  countiy,  and  of  different  occupaticms — not 
confined  at  all  to  professors  of  religion,  met  tog-ether  as  a  convention  : 
and  v.'hat  to  do  ?      Why,  it  would  seem,  first  to  reform  the  Church. 
The  Church  is  the  great  instrument  of  reforming  the  world  ;  but  we, 
as  part  of  the  world,  must  first  reform  the  Church.     And  how  are 
we  to  do  it  ?     By  denouncing  the  Church  and   her  rr>inisters,  as  the 
great  cause  of  all  the  corruption  in  the  world  ?     Now,  the  Church  is 
said  to  be  the  great  instrument  by  Avhich  the  world  is  to  be  purified  ; 
and  we  would  paralyze  her  influence,  by  telling  the  world  that  sho 
has  no  purity  ;  and  then  we  say  to  the  Church,  "  Now  we  have  bran- 
ded you  ;    go  forth  to  reform   the  world."      It  is.  Sir,  one  of  the  a- 
larming  evils  of  the  day,  that  the  order  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is 
utterl;/  subverted.     The  Church  and  her  ministers — the  great  instru- 
ment for  reforming  the  world — is  called  to  sit  down  at  the  feet  of  lo- 
cal agents  of  self-constituted  societies,  to  be  lectured  by  them,  and 
told  of  its  delinquencies  and  corruptions.     It  seems  to  me  that  if  she 
would  longer  preserve  her  power,  the  Church  must  stand  up  against 
this  conduct,  or  at  once  resign  her  functions,  and  commit  them  to  the 
hands  of  some  self-created  association.     There  is  not  a  more  alarm- 
ing evil  under  the  whole  heaven,  than  this  desecration  of  the  minis- 
try, and  this  trampling  of  this  divine  institution  of  God  under  foot.     I 
have  no  disposition  to  excuse  the  sins  of  the  Church  ;  but  I  do  hot  like 
to  be  told,  as  we  have  been  told  by  some  of  those  agents,  that  if  we 
had  only  known  as  much  as  they  did  about  the  matter,  we  should  have 
acted  differently.     We  had  better  be  "  bound  out"  to  some  Moral 
Reform  Society,  and  learn  of  them  how  to  advocate  the  cause  of 
Christ.     I  must,  for  one,  bear  my  testimony  against  this  trampling 
under  foot  of  the  Church  of  God  ;  and  the  Church  must  stand  up  and 
bear  her  testimony  against  it.     I  am,  therefore,  decidedly  in  favor  of 
the  amendment ;  and,  as  amended,  I  have  no  objection  at  all  to  the 
resolution  ;  because,  it  is  a  fact  which  has  fully  come  out  in  this  dis- 
cussion, that  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  are  guilty  of  deseci'at- 
ing  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord.     But  I  am  not  pleased  with  the  course 
that  has  been  taken  in  prefemng  these  charges.     I  believe  it  altoge- 
ther  better  to  make  such  charges  by  name,  and  not  impute  corrup- 
tion to  a  whole  class.     I  do  not  like  to  see  a  man  rise  and  say  that 


73 

members  of  this  Convention  have  been  guilty  of  Sabbath-breaking  in 
coming  here.  I  would  rather  he  would  name  them,  if  he  knows 
them,  than  thus  to  cast  suspicion  on  the  whole.  If  I  have  anything 
against  any  member,  Christ  has  directed  me  what  to  do  ;  and  J 
should  not  thank  any  member  who  should  come  to  me  and  say, 
*'  Brother  Wisner,  a  member  of  your  church,  is  an  habitual  Sabbath- 
breaker:"  but  I  should  thank  him  if  he  would  say,  "  Mr.  Wisner, 
A,  B,  or  C,  has  done  so  and  so,  in  violation  of  the  Sabbath ;  and  I 
wish  you  would  attend  to  it."  Then,  the  reform  may  be  brought  a- 
bout  without  slandering  the  whole  Church. 

Tliose  are  the  last  remarks  I  shall  make  here,  and  I  feel  glad  to 
bear  testimony  against  the  course  that  has  been  adopted,  in  loto. 
And  here  let  me  say,  that  I  am,  by  no  means,  tenacious  of  any  opinion 
of  my  own.  I  did  feel  that  we  needed  something  more  specific;  and, 
after  what  I  was  told,  I  supposed  that  if  I  had  only  some  other  facts 
which  others  knew,  such  a  flood  of  light  would  have  been  poured  up- 
on the  subject,  that  I  should  clearly  have  seen  my  error.  But  when 
this  illuminating  llond  came,  I  saw  that  it  had  shone  upon  my  path 
before  ;  for  I  had  heard  brother  Stillman,  and  he  says  precisely  as 
I  did,  that  we  must  have  something  more  specific.  But  he  pours 
out  the  vials  of  his  wrath  upon  the  Church ;  and  tells  the  world  that 
it  is  in  vain  to  come  here  to  reform  mankind  :  that  the  Church  is  the 
power  to  do  this :  and  she  is  so  corrupt  that  she  cannot.  Thus  we 
have  met  in  Convention  to  reform  Christ's  instrument  for  reforming 
the  world. 

Rev.  Mr.  Galusha  said  that  Mr.  Wisner  seemed  to  regard  the  re- 
solution  as  charging  that  the  Church  was  the  sole  cause  of  corruption 
in  the  world.  The  great  obstacle  is,  in  reality,  the  want  of  unity  in 
the  Church.  A  want  of  concert  is  the  cause  of  failure.  If  any  ex- 
pression of  mine  has  led  to  the  belief  that  I  meant  to  say  that  the 
Cliurch  had  lost  her  character,  I  wish  to  remove  it. 

Mr.  Wisner.  The  expression  was  that  "  the  Church  had  lost  her 
power,  because  she  had  lost  her  puri'y  /'^ 

Mr.  Galusha.  Yes,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Avorld  it  is  so.  There 
seems  to  be  a  fear  that  the  Church  will  be  dictated  to  by  voluntary 
associations.  I  wish  to  suggest  that  these  associations  are  all  based 
upon  the  fact,  that  the  Church  does  not  act  in  concert  against  the 
common  enemy  ;  and  even  those  avIio  have  the  most  zeal,  cannot,  ex- 
cept by  these  associations,  rally  in  solid  phalanx  against  the  sins  of 
the  world,  as  they  seek  to  do  through  the  agency  of  these  voluntary 
associations.  It  is  this  want  of  union  in  action,  of  which  I  complain  ; 
for  this  is  the  great  obstacle  in  the  way  of  reform. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisner  did  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  speaking  a- 
gainst  voluntary  associations,  in  themselves  ;  but  only  against  their 
course  in  relation  to  the  Church. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  amendment  of  Rev.  Tryon 
Edwards  ;  and  it  was  adopted  by  a  very  large  majority. 

The  resolution,  as  amended,  was  then  put  to  the  house,  and  adop- 
ted. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned. 


74 

,■'  ■  ','.."■■**.":  7i  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Convention  reassembled,  and  the  sixteenth  resolution  was  read 
as  follows  : 

16.  Resolved,  That  all  travelling,  employment,  sharing  profits,  or 
holding  stock  of  or  in  connexion  with  railroads,  canal  or  steam  boats, 
stages,  or  other  associations  or  vehicles  for  business  or  pleasure,  which 
continue  their  ordinary  employment  upon  the  Sabbath,  are  violations 
of  the  fourth  commandment,  and  should  be  abandoned  by  all  who 
hold  the  doctrine  of  e^waZ  rights — claim  to  be  philanthropists  and  pa- 
triots— desire  to  prosper  in  business— transmit  the  results  of  their  toil 
to  their  heirs-— or  avert  the  judgments  of  heaven. 

Mr.  Starr,  for  the  Business  Committee,  said  this  resolution  had 
been  introduced  to  meet  what  seemed  to  be  the  general  desire  for 
specification.  -He  believed  all  the  topics  alluded  to  in  it,  had  been 
«.lready  discussed. 

Judge  Sampson  said  he  should  cheerfully  acquiesce  in  passing  the 
resolution  without  debate,  were  it  not  for  his  individual  situation, 
which  he  presumed  was  somewhat  peculiar.  He  felt  that  he  could 
not  consistently  vote  for  the  resolution,  without  taking  an  entirely 
different  course  from  any  he  had  yet  seen  fit  to  take.  He  regretted 
the  necessity  of  trespassing  upon  the  time  of  the  Convention.  He  did 
not  lise  to  oppose  the  passage  of  the  resolution,  but  to  define  his  own 
position,  and  respectfully  to  solicit  from  his  Christian  brethren  what- 
ever light  they  <Gould  give  him  as  to  his  duty  in  the  matter. 

The  case,  said  he,  is  briefly  this  :  Several  years  since,  I  was  in- 
duced, partly  by  a  regard  for  public  utility,  but  more  for  private  e- 
molument,  to  take  part  in  tlie  establishment  of  a  rail-road.  1  suppo- 
sed the  stock  would  be  valuable,  and  the  investment  a  good  one.  The 
result  has  shown  that  I  was  mistaken.  The  road  is  not  completed, 
though  a  part  is  in  operation.  I  do  not  know  tliat  the  stock  has  now 
any  fixed  market  value  ;  but  it  is  thought  that,  after  the  road  shall 
have  been  finished,  the  investment  will  be  much  better  than  it  now 
appears. 

With  regard  to  running  the  cars  on  the  Sabbath,  the  decision  to 
which  the  closest  reflection  I  could  give  to  the  subject,  has  brought 
me,  is  this :  to  use  my  influence  as  far  as  I  could,  not  to  do  so.  ,In 
that,  myself  and  those  who  were  with  me,  were  overruled.  The 
practice  is  to  run  one  train  on  the  Sabbath  for  the  mail  :  no  more. 
I  allude  to  the  Tonawanda  road.  It  will  probably  be  completed  du- 
ring the  present  season. 

I  had  loiig  ago  determined,  as  soon  as  there  should  be  any  settled 
market  val^e  to  the  stock,  to  sell  it,  if  we  could  not  succeed  in  pro- 
ducing the  change  we  sought.  I  did  not  think  it  my  duty,  at  any  and 
every  sacrifice,  to  get  rid  of  my  stock,  nor  do  I  now  ;  though  1  can- 
not say  that  I  feel  perfectly  clear  as  to  what  I  ought  to  do.  It  may 
be  that  I  am  in  error.  I  consider  myself  liable  to  error  in  judgment ; 
though  this  is  the  result  of  my  own  reflection.  The  amount  of  capi- 
tal is  several  thousand  dollars — for  me  a  large  sum,  though  without 
it  I  should  not  be  left  destitute.  If  convinced  that  my  duty,  my 
Christian  consistency,  and  the  law  of  C4od  require  me  to  make  the 
bacrifice,  I  trust  I  am  ready  to  do  it.     Other  individuals  I  happen  to 


75 

know,  are  situated  in  the  same  way  with  myself.  Thus  beinfT  situ- 
ated, I  cannot  consistently  vote  for  the  resolution,  unless  convinced 
that  it  is  my  duty  to  sacrifice  all  my  interest  in  the  road,  immedi- 
ately. 

Air.  IIicKOK,  of  Buffalo,  said  that  he,  too,  felt  called  on  to  say  a 
{ew  words  on  this  resolution.  He  said  that  he  held  some  stock  in  the 
same  road  ;  and,  from  what  he  had  been  able,  from  observation,  to 
see  of  the  niotives  that  usually  intluence  men,  h>  thought  it  right  that 
Christians  should  hold  and  control  all  the  rail-road  and  steamboat 
stock  that  they  could  ;  for  thus  they  might  bring  about  the  results 
for  which  they  were  aimhig.  I  resolved,  some  years  since,  that  I 
would  hold  stock  in  this  road,  so  long-as  there  was  any  hope  of  bring- 
ing about  the  prevention  of  Sabbath  desecration.  But  t!ie  moment  I 
tbund  it  hopeless,  I  should  sell  the  stock  at  any  sacrifice.  I  have 
thus  uniformly  used  all  the  influence  I  possessed  in  the  company,  in 
favor  of  this  object.  But  the  most  of  it  is  held  by  men  who  care  lit- 
tle for  these  things.  Some  of  them,  however,  I  am  happy  to  say,  are 
here  to-day,  and  have  come  up  with  me  to  endeavor  to  impress  upon 
this  Convention,  the  necessity  that  that  rail-road  should  not  run  its 
cars  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  that  our  voice  to  that  effect,  might  go  forth 
from  here  to  the  whole  country.  I  suppose  that  if  we  could  succeed 
in  stopping  it  on  that  road,  it  would  have  the  effect  of  stopping  it  on 
the  whole  route.  I  am  therefore  of  opinion  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
Christians  to  take  this  method  of  influencing  the  public  sentiment. 
But  if  we  decide  that  it  is  not  proper  to  own  stock,  then  we  must  also 
decide  not  to  ride  over,  or  in  any  way  give  countenance  to,  rail-roads 
that  run  on  the  Sabbath.  If  you  do  this  with  a  view  to  carry  out  the 
sanctity  of  the  Sabbath,  you  will  find  all  the  owners  of  boats  and 
cars  to  be  men  who  look  at  it  merely  with  reference  to  dollars  and 
cents. 

I  am,  therefore,  as  I  observed  before,  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  Ciiristians,  if  they  have  money  to  invest,  to  do  so  in  rail-road 
stocks,  and  in  other  modes  of  public  conveyance,  for  the  purpose  of 
controlling  them.  The  time  has  come  for  action  on  this  subject ;  and 
I  know  no  way  in  which  Christians  can  act  more  to  the  purpose,  than 
in  this.  It  is  not  necessary  to  come  up  here,  to  say  what  is  our  duty 
in  general  terms,  for  we  all  know  that ;  but  it  is  time  to  do  it,  and  I 
hope  we  shall  begin  now.  We  stand  much  in  the  same  ground,  in 
relation  to  a  Christian  community,  as  Esther  did  when  she  was  cal- 
led on  by  Mordecai  to  go  in  before  the  king  and  ask  for  the  salvation 
of  her  people  and  nation,  wlien  he  told  her  not  to  think  that  she  should 
escape  more  than  all  others  ;  for  if  she  held  her  peace,  salvation  to 
the  Jews  should  arise  in  another  place,  but  she  and  her  house  should 
be  destroyed.  Is  not  this  the  situation  of  the  Christian  community  ? 
And  are  we  not  called  on  to  speak  out  to  the  kings  (the  people),  and 
to  ask  them  to  come  up  to  this  great  work  ?  I  feel  that  this  is  the 
most  important  resolution  that  has  been  presented.  I  would  say  to 
my  friend  who  holds  stock  in  this  road  with  myself,  to  hold  it  still, 
as  iiaving  receiving  it  from  Christ,  as  the  allowance  of  the  Almighty 
for  the  good  of  his  fellow,  men  ;  and  I  wish  every  Christian  who  has 
money,  would  buy  into  these  roads,  that,  by  sacrificing  something, 


76 

he  may  give  his  influence  to  effect  the  hallowing  of  the  holy  Sab- 
bath. 

Rev.  Mr.  Curry  said  that  he  understood  the  resolution  to  declare 
that  it  is  sinful  to  hold  stock,  under  any  circumstances,  in  Sabbath- 
breaking  rail-roads  ;  and  from  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Hickok,  he  sup- 
posed he  could  not  have  so  understood  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Hickok  said  that  he  considered  this  resolution  to  declare  that 
it  was  sinful  to  hold  stock  in  a  rail-road,  &c.,  while  there  was  no 
hope  of  bringing  about  the  keeping  of  the  Sabbath  by  it ;  but  whil-e 
there  was  any  such  hope,  he  thought  it  right  to  hold  stock.  As  to 
the  time,  that  was  left  in  the  breast  of  each  individual,  who  must, 
settle  for  himself  the  motive  by  which  he  is  governed. 

Mr.  Curry  said  his  object  was  to  bring  out  the  explanation,  so  that 
it  might  be  known  what  the  committee  meant  by  the  resolution.  I 
was  opposed,  said  he,  to  specification ;  but  since  we  have  begun,  I 
think  it  best  to  be  very  specific,  so  that  the  members  may  not  under- 
stand one  thing  by  the  resolution,  and  the  public  another.  If  the 
resolution  pass  and  go  to  the  world  in  its  present  shape,  it  will  be 
misunderstood.  A  plain  man  would  say  that  it  means  just  what  it 
says ;  and  that  Judge  Sampson,  if  he  approve  the  resolution,  cannot 
hold  stock  in  a  Sabbath-breaking  rail-road  a  moment  after. 

There  is  another  difficulty  which  is  wholly  a  question  of  casuistry  ; 
and  that  is,  suppose  all  hope  of  bringing  about  a  change,  is  lost :  what 
shall  the  owner  do  with  his  stock  then  ?  "Why,"  says  one,  "sell  it — 
that  is,  give  up  the  whole  management  into  the  hands  of  those  who 
will,  without  scruple,  violate  the  Sabbath  !"  Would  it  not  be  more 
consistent  to  take  the  otlier  ground  ?  I  believe  that  I  know  enough 
of  the  minds  of  men,  to  know  that  almost  every  man  would  call  upon 
him  to  do  just  as  they  did  with  regard  to  alcohol — pour  it  into  the 
street.  But  they  may  say  you  cannot  destroy  money  !  No :  but 
you  can  renounce  all  claim  to  it,  and  show  to  the  world  that  you  are 
disinterested  in  the  matter. 

All  that  I  wish  is,  to  have  the  resolution  definitely  understood.  I 
would  oppose  it  if  I  thought  it  would  be  of  any  service,  because,  Sir, 
I  believe  it  to  be  fraught  with  difficulties  we  shall  not  be  able  to 
overcome.  If  the  Convention  design  to  efTect  good,  they  must  let  the 
question  as  to  what  is  sin  and  what  is  not,  alone.  The  whole  thing 
should  be  thrown  back  to  the  breasts  of  the  church. 

Dr.  Edwards  wished  to  say  one  word.  He  differed  from  the  com- 
mittee  as  to  the  propriety  of  introducing  that  resolution,  because  he 
thought  it  would  not  be  useful.  The  Convention  ought  rather  to  trust 
to  the  consciences  of  men  to  say  what  was  a  breach  of  the  fourth 
commandment ;  and  under  the  light  thrown  upon  the  subject  by  the 
discussion,  he  was  willing  to  trust  to  that.  He  thought  the  great  ob- 
ject of  the  Convention  would  be  best  promoted  by  not  passing  the  re- 
solution. 

Mr.  Starr  moved  to  insert  the  words  "  for  investment,"  after  the 
word  "  stock,"  as  that  would  convey  the  notion  of  permanent  invest- 
ment. 

Mr.  Curry  said  that  would  not  relieve  the  difficulty  in  his  mind, 
nor  in  the  public  mind.     As  long  as  the  expression  is  in  the  resolu- 


77 

tion,  that  it  is  wrong  to  hold  stock,  so  long  will  it  be  understood  as 
condennning  it  m  toto  ;  and  they  will  overlook  the  explanation  that 
may  be  given.  If  there  were  any  way  of  placing  the  matter  before 
the  public,  so  that  it  would  be  understood,  he  had  no  objection  ;  but 
it  would  be  found  impossible  to  do  it. 

Judge  WiLKEsoN  said  that  he  would  depart  from  the  rule,  by  ask- 
ing  a  question.  If  I  understand  you  (Mr.  Curry),  you  do  not  object 
to  the  resolution  itself,  but  only  to  what  has  grown  out  of  the  expla- 
nation of  the  committee. 

Mr.  Curry.  It  is  to  the  ambiguity  in  the  resolution,  growing  out 
of  the  explanation  to  which  I  take  exception.  I  wish  to  be  understood 
as  objecting  that  the  resolution,  xolth  the  explanation,  appears  differ- 
ently from  what  it  would  to  the  public  witliout. 

Judge  WiLKESON  said  it  would  be  found  that  there  was  no  cause 
for  difficulty.  The  remarks  of  members  touching  their  own  views 
of  duty,  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  resolution  itself.  They  are 
made  merely  in  reference  to  personal  matters  ;  and  the  public  will 
judge  of  them  by  a  different  standard  than  this  resolution.  There 
seems  to  be  no  objection  at  all  to  the  resolution.  As  to  what  has 
fallen  from  gentlemen,  it  need  create  no  alarm  or  disagreement. 
Members  of  the  Convention  who  owned  rail-road  stock,  had  offered 
personal  explanations  which  were  entirely  satisfactory  ;  and  others 
were  similarly  situated.  But  this  does  not  change  the  purport  of  the 
resolution.  I  hope  that  the  amendment  will  be  adopted  ;  for  there 
are  cases,  such  as  where  property  is  held  in  trust,  where  legally  they 
cannot  divest  themselves.  With  this  amendment,  the  resolution  will 
have  no  ambiguity. 

Rev.  Mr.  Beecher  said  he  did  not  see  that  the  amendment  affected 
the  resolution  at  all.  The  only  point  involved,  was,  whether  it  was 
a  violation  of  the  commands  of  God,  to  hold  stock  in  a  rail-road  that 
violates  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath.  If  not,  very  well — we  may  all 
take  hold.  If  it  is,  then  I  apprehend  no  Christian  can  do  it.  But 
some  seem  to  think  that  it  is  justifiable,  even  in  this  case,  if  they  do 
it  in  the  hope  to  secure  the  control,  and  thereby  stop  the  violation  of 
the  Sabbath.  But  is  it  not  said  that  we  are  not  to  do  evil  that  good 
may  come  ?  and  that  we  are  to  avoid  even  the  appearance  of  evil  ? 
And  would  it  be  justifiable  in  a  Christian  to  buy  part  of  a  theatre,  in 
the  hope  of  soon  getting  the  whole,  and  thus  putting  it  down  ?  Sup- 
pose I  should  do  that,  and  people  should  say.  There  is  Mr.  Beecher, 
owns  five  thousand  dollars  in  a  theatre,  and  is  receiving  the  avails. 
Well,  he  is  brought  before  the  Presbytery  ;  and  there  he  says  that 
he  does  it  for  the  purpose  of  stopping  them  by-and-by.  Now  what 
talk  is  this  ?  And  is  it  right  for  a  Christian  to  step  so  near  the  divi- 
ding line,  as  not  to  know  whether  he  is  doing  right  or  wrong  ?  I 
know  it  may  be  a  hard  case  ;  and  it  is  always  hard  work  to  fight  the 
devil.  "  Be  not  unequally  yoked  with  unbelievers,"  is  the  command 
of  the  Bible.  "Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not;"  but  sell  your 
stock  for  what  it  will  bring. 

But,  says  another,  you  have  no  right  to  sell  to  another.  Now  there 
is  a  difference  here,  which  destroys  the  parallel  which  has  been 
drawn  with  selling  alcohol.     That  is  always  injurious,  and  I  have 


w. 


78 

therefore  no  right  to  sell ;  but  I  have  no  evidence  that  this  rail-road 
stock  is  to  be  used  to  any  one's  injury,  when  I  sell  it.  If  I  sell 
stock  in  the  market,  I  am  not  responsible  for  the  use  that  is  made  of 
it. 

Rev.  Mr.  Slocum,  of  Manlius,  said  that  he  regretted  that  the  reso- 
lution was  presented,  because  it  tended  to  produce  discord  in  the 
Convention.  Thus  far,  every  thing  had  been  done  harmoniously  ; 
and  he  had  hoped  that  the  session  would  have  closed  in  the  same 
way.  I  am  opposed  to  the  resolution,  said  he,  on  two  grounds.  First, 
as  to  the  expediency  of  the  thing,  even  supposing  that,  in  itself,  the 
resolution  is  right.  I  deem  it  inexpedient  to  adopt  the  resolution  in  the- 
present  state  of  the  public  mind.  I  know  that  there  is,  now-a-days, 
a  great  deal  of  ultraism  in  moral  and  religious  matters.  I  know  that 
voluntary  associations,  though  they  do  much  good,  are  looked  on  witK 
distrust.  Now  suppose  this  resolution  should  be  adopted.  Every 
man  who  is  in  the  least  suspicious  of  the  movement  in  favor  of  the 
Sabbath,  would  read  it,  if  he  read  nothing  else  ;  and  he  would  at 
once  characterize  the  Convention  by  that  resolution.  Now,  though 
it  may  be  right,  still  it  is  not  always  expedient  to  insist  upon  the  right ! 

But  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  resolution  is  really  right  in  its  prin- 
ciples. It  declares  plainly,  that,  for  an  individual  to  receive  profits 
or  to  hold  stock  in  Sabbath-breaking  rail-roads,  is,  in  itself,  a  viola- 
tion of  the  fourth  commandment.  Now,  if  the  sentiment  of  the  reso- 
lution be  true,  what  right  has  our  Vice-President,  who  holds  stock,  to 
dispose  of  it  to  any  one  else  ?  Will  that  sanction  the  violation  ? 
Certainly  not.     It  is  only  adding  sin  to  sin. 

But  I  do  not  wish  to  debate  the  subject.  I  hope  the  remark  of  Dr. 
Edwards  will  have  weight  with  the  Convention.  If  we  settle  the 
certain  principle  on  which  the  Sabbath  rests,  and  hold  on  to  that, 
have  we  not  done  enough  ?  These  principles  will  work  themselves 
out.  A,  B,  and  C  will  find  out  for  themselves,  whether  the  relation 
is  a  Christian  relation,  or  is  not ;  and  if  not,  leave  it  for  them  to  with- 
draw from  it.     I'  hope  that  the  resolution  will  not  be  adopted. 

Rev.  Mr.  Powell,  of  Cincinnati,  had  hoped  that  the  resolution; 
would  not  have  come  up  in  this  form.  There  has  been  in  existence, 
for  about  six  years,  a  Sabbath  association  in  Pittsburgh,  comprising 
as  intelligent  men  as  any  in  the  United  States,  and  they  have  been 
battling  this  question  for  years.  Ten  months  ago  they  let  go,  and 
joined  their  Philadelphia  friends  in  bringing  the  canals  into  Sabbath- 
keeping  arrangements.  And  I  speak  advisedly  when  I  say  that, 
from  what  I  have  seen  of  public  opinion  there,  if  the  Convention  had 
adopted  such  a  i-esolution  as  this,  we  should  never  have  succeeded. 
But  now  a  large  proportion  of  men  who  would  not  otherwise  have 
joined  us,  have  been  brought  into  united  action.  If  we  were  now 
united  on  these  points,  we  should  succeed ;  but  if  we  pass  this  reso- 
lution,  we  shall  throw  oflT  a  great  many  who  would  otherwise  cheer- 
fully act  with  us.  It  is  best  to  do  what  we  have  no  doubt  about  f 
and  leave  the  rest  until  we  have  more  light. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wisner,  of  Ithaca,  had  doubts  whether  it  would  be  ex- 
pedient to  try  to  pass  the  resolution — not  because  he  did  not  believe 
it  right,  and  just  the  thing  that  was  wanted — but  because  a  divided 


79 

vote  woiild  accomplish  hvA  littlo.  We  are  told  that  if  we  had  gone 
on  as  we  had  begun,  we  yliould  have  liad  no  disagreement.  We 
could  scarcely  diflcr  on  questions  where  no  interest  was  atFectcd.  It 
is  only  when  their  interests  are  touched,  that  men  disagree.  I  per- 
ceive what  I  have  long  suspected,  that  the  Church  has  slid  so  far 
into  the  world,  that  it  finds  difticulty  in  knowing  what  its  duty  is. 
Still,  I  believe  the  Church  is  honestly  disposed  to  get  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty, though  I  fear  she  will  not  until  she  makes  the  eflbrt.  We  are 
told  that  we  have  been  settling  great  principles  ;  but  I  confess  that 
I  think  we  have  settled  nothing  at  all,  except  that  the  fourth  com- 
mandment is  binding  in  the  nhieteenth  century  ! 

It  nmy  be  best,  however,  to  abandon  the  resolution.  I  mean  to 
have  no  zeal  for  my  own  measure  ;  and  I  fear  that  a  mere  majority- 
vote  on  this  resolution,  would  be  productive  of  no  good.  Just  at  the 
heel  of  the  session  it  will  scarcely  be  possible  to  get  any  thing  more 
specific  than  we  have  already.  I  wish  to  say,  however,  that  my  own 
views  with  regard  to  the  necessity  of  specification,  are  unchanged. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bkecher  moved  an  indefinite  postponc;'«ent  of  the  reso- 
lution and  amendment. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cl^krv  seconded  the  motion,  and  said  that  he  did  so  from 
an  honest  conviction  that  lie  should  have  been  obliged  to  go  farther 
than  the  resolution,  if  that  was  adopted. 

Mr.  HicKOK  wished  to  know  what  difference  there  was  in  principle, 
on  the  ground  assumed,  between  owning  shares  and  riding  in  the  ears 
of  a  Sabbath-breaking  rail-road. 

The  President  ruled  the  remarks  out  of  order,  on  a  question  of 
postponement. 

The  question  on  postponement  was  taken,  and  carried  by  a  ma- 
jority. 

Mr.  Beecher  moved  to  suspend  farther  business,  to  receive  com- 
munications from  Mr.  Stare. 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  !\Ir.  Starr  read  the  following  papers  : 

Rochester,  July  21,  1842. 

1.  Is,  or  is  not,  relaxation  from  labor,  one  day  in  seven,  of  vast 
importance  to  all  men  ? 

Eighteen  years  experience,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  the 
forwarding  business,  has  satisfied  me  that  it  is  vastly  important  to 
man  to  sustain  him,  either  in  a  physical,  intellectual,  or  moral  point 
of  view. 

2.  Do  the  men  employed  on  the  canal,  desire  the  boats  to  stop  on 
the  Sabbath  ? 

As  far  as  my  experience  has  gone,  the  great  majority  of  them  are 
desirous  that  their  boats  should  stop  on  the  Sabbath. 

3.  Would  ziot  better  men  be  obtained,  if  Sabbath  business  was  dis- 
continued ? 

There  is  no  doubt  on  this  question.  Honest,  conscientious  men 
are  kept  back  from  engaging  in  Sabbath  desecration,  from  principle. 

4.  What  is  the  eflfect  of  seven-day  labor  upon  the  morals  of  the 
men  employed  ? 

It  leads  to  a  disregard  of  moral  and  religious  obligation. 


■i\ 


80 

5.  Will  not  horses  accomplish  more  and  live  longer,  if  employed 
six  days  instead  of  seven  ? 

Facts  may  be  produced  to  show  that  they  will, 

6.  Do  the  lock-tenders  and  collectors  desire  the  boats  should  lay 
up  on  the  Sabbath  ? 

We  know  of  but  few  men  employed  on  the  canal  in  any  way,  but 
would  rejoice  to  see  all  locks  closed  and  all  boats  stopped  on  the 
Sabbath. 

7.  Do  the  forwarders  desire  their  business  should  stop  on  the  Sab. 
bath  ? 

We  believe  all  forwarders  are  ready  and  willing  to  stop  their  boats 
on  the  Sabbath,  if  it  could  be  a  general  thing. 

8.  Do  the  six-day  lines  divide  as  large  profits  as  the  seven-day 
lines? 

Those  lines  that  run  seven  days  in  the  week,  have  one-seventh  the 
advantage,  as  their  expenses,  in  all  respects,  are  the  same.  There- 
fore it  cannot  be  expected  that,  with  the  same  business,  they  can  di- 
vide equal  to  the  seven-da.y  lines.  The  passengers  do  much  to  sus- 
tain canal-lines  ;  and  the  multitude  will  travel  on  the  Sabbath,  while 
an  opportunity  offers. 

9.  What  advantage  does  arise  from  seven  days,  which  might  not 
be  obtained  in  six  days  ? 

None  at  all,  if  all  should  stop. 

10.  What  reasons  why  this  business  should  be  prosecuted  seven 
days  in  the  week,  over  other  business  ? 

No  good  reasons  can  be  given,  why  a  man  should  run  his  boats  on 
the  Sabbath  day,  more  than  his  plough  or  his  wagon. 

11.  What  are  the  disadvantages  that  would  result  from  laying  by 
on  the  Sabbath  ? 

None,  when  all  stop. 

12.  Can  the  business  on  the  canal,  be  done  in  six  days  ? 
As  well  as  in  seven. 

13.  How  could  you  lose  more  money  by  observing  the  Sabbath, 
in  laying  up  your  boats  ? 

We  think  abundant  facts  may  be  produced  to  show  that  the  busi-, 
ness  of  the  canal  may  be  done  in  six  days,  at  less  expense,  than  in 
seven,  provided  all  lines  would  stop  their  boats  on  the  Sabbath. 

PLINY  ALLEN. 

Answers  to  Twelve  Interrogatories  propounded  to  me  hy  F.  Starr,  Esq. 

1.  Is  not  relaxation  from  labor,  one  day  in  seven,  of  importance  to 
all  men  ? 

One  day  in  seven  is  necessary  to  recruit  the  animal  powers  of 
man  ;  and  I  think  very  important  that  he  should  have  that  rest,  in 
order  to  prepare  him  for  the  active  prosecution  of  his  labors  during 
the  other  six. 

2.  Do  the  men  on  the  canal  desire  the  boats  to  stop  on  the  Sab- 
bath ? 

Among  the  men  who  are  employed  to  work  the  boats,  it  would  be 
very  rare  indeed  to  find  one  who  would  not  earnestly  wish  one  day 


81 

in  seven  for  relaxation  ;  and  of  the  employers,  or  men  who  own  pro- 
perty on  the  canal,  tlicrc  are  very  few  but  what  would  rather  lay  up 
on  the  Sabbath,  provided  the  stoppage  was  general. 

3.  Would  not  better  men  be  obtained  by  stopping  on  the  Sabbath  ? 
There  are   many  honest   and  valuable  men   now    employed    on 

the  canals  ;  but  from  conscicncious  Koruplcs,  very  many  are  deterred 
from  engaging  in  that  business  ;  and  should  the  Sabbath  bo  properly 
respected,  many  valuable  men  could  bo  procured  to  supply  the  pla- 
ces of  some  who  could  be  well  s]iarcd  from  the  canals. 

4.  What  is  tlie  cflect  of  seven-day  labor  on  the  physical  condition 
and  the  morals  of  the  men  employed  ? 

A  constant  routine  of  labor,  day  after  day  and  week  after  week, 
without  any  time  given  to  recruit  tlic  body,  is  undoubtedly  injurious 
to  health  ;  and  as  to  morals,  the  cflect  has  any  thing  but  a  tendency 
to  advance  them. 

5.  Will  not  horses  accomplish  more  and  live  longer,  if  employed 
six  days  instead  of  seven  ? 

Horses  on  the  canals  arc  much  abused,  I  have  known  a  depreci- 
ation of  thirty  per  cent,  in  one  season,  owing  principally  to  incessant 
and  constant  towing,  without  any  time  given  to  rest.  In  my  opinion, 
horses  well  taken  care  of,  would  accomplish  as  much,  if  not  more, 
labor  during  the  season,  in  six  days,  if  allowed  to  rest  the  seventh, 
than  they  could  by  working  the  seven. 

6.  Do  the  lock-tenders  and  collectors  desire  the  boats  should  lay 
up  on  the  Sabbath  ? 

All  of  these  men  that  I  have  ever  conversed  with  on  the  subject, 
have  expressed  a  decided  preference  to  lay  up  on  that  day,  but  say 
they  have  no  choice  in  the  matter.  They  are  compelled  to  be  at 
their  post  during  the  season  of  navigation,  night  and  day,  so  long  as 
they  retain  their  situation.  Tliat  is  required  of  them  by  the  officers 
of  the  canal,  say  the  Canal  Board.  It  would  appear  by  ihis,  that  the 
good  of  the  Empire  State  demanded  or  at  least  countenanced  Sab- 
bath-breaking. 

7.  Do  the  forwarders  desire  their  business  should  stop  on  the  Sab. 
bath? 

I  have  been  engaged' in  forwarding  on  the  Erie-canal  nearly  eight- 
een years — twelve  of  them  on  my  own  account.  I  have  never  en- 
tertained  but  one  opinion  on  the  subject  of  working  seven  days  in  the 
week  j  and  that  opinion  was  and  is,  that  the  custom  is  altogether 
wrong — nothing  gained  fr 0711  it  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view — and  every 
person  knows  that  the  moral  effect  on  community,  is  lamentably  de- 
grading,  through  the  whole  length  of  the  canal,  and,  I  may  add, 
through  the  State ;  for  in  the  winter  season  you  will  scarcely  enter 
a  village  or  hamlet  within  the  bounds  of  the  State,  but  that  you  will 
find  persons  connected  with  canalling  or  forwarding ;  and  the  habits 
they  have  got  accustomed  to,  they  cannot  shake  off,  they  are  there 
with  them,  and  the  contagion  spreads.  Now  I  must  say  that  for- 
warders  and  boatmen  originally  are  as  well  inclined  as  any  other 
portion  of  community  ;  and  I  do  assert  that  whatever  difference  there 
may  be  against  the  canalling  portion  of  our  citizens,  it  is  the  undeni- 
able and  legitimate  fruits  of  Sabbath-breaking.     I  positively  believe, 


82 

and  something  over  forty-five  years  experience  have  gone  to  prove, 
that  much  of  our  happiness  and  comfort  here,  saying  nothing  of  here- 
after, depend  on  the  use  we  make  of  the  seventh  day.  Circumstan- 
ces made  me  a  forwarder ;  and  were  I  altogether  disconnected  from 
it,  I  would  rejoice  at  their  prosperity.  There  are  a  great  many  well 
meaning,  honorable  men  in  the  business,  who  are  forced  by  circum- 
stances beyond  their  personal  control,  to  participate  in  the  effect  of 
laboring  on  the  seventh  day,  but  would  rejoice  at  the  adoption  of  any 
legal  suasive  measure  calculated  to  do  away  with  this  seven-day  la- 
bor by  the  entire  suspension  of  all  business  on  the  Sabbath  day.  I 
venture  to  assert,  in  behalf  of  my  fellow  forwarders,  that  nine  out  of 
ten  who  are  regular  forwarders,  would  rejoice  at  the  prospect  of  do- 
ing business  on  an  equal  footing,  and  be  allowed  to  rest  on  the  sev- 
enth day. 

8.  Do  the  six-day  lines  divide  as  large  profits  as  the  seven-day 
lines? 

Cannot  say.  There  have  been  no  profits  lately  to  divide,  by  either 
six  or  seven  day  lines. 

9.  What  advantage  does  arise  from  seven  days,  which  might  not 
be  obtained  in  six  days  ? 

No  advantages  whatever,  provided  all  would  come  into  the  meastire. 

10.  What  are  the  disadvantages  that  would  result  from  laying  by 
on  the  Sabbath  ? 

None  !  none  !  provided  all  would  abstain  from  labor  on  that  day. 
Many  advantages  would  spring  from  it,  that  under  the  present  state 
of  doing  business,  we  hardly  know  how  to  appreciate. 

11.  How  could  you  lose  more  money  by  observing  the  Sabbath, 
in  laying  up  your  boats  ? 

This  may  be  answered  by  stating  that,  except  the  observance  was 
general,  many  customers  who  do  not  view  the  matter  in  its  true  light, 
would  leave  us  if  we  laid  up  on  the  seventh  day,  while  others  trav- 
elled on — thinking  that  they  would  gain  time,  which  to  merchants,  in 
many  eases,  is  of  much  importance.  But  if  all  would  lay  up,  that 
obstacle  would  be  out  of  the  way. 

12.  What  reasons  why  this  business  should  be  prosecuted  seven 
days  in  the  week,  over  other  business  ? 

No  reason  why.  There  is  nothing  to  sanction  it  but  its  being  cus- 
tomary. I  consider  this  custom  a  bad  one  ;  and  the  sooner  we  get 
rid  of  it  the  better. 

Please  excuse  the  inaccuracies  of  these  hasty  replies  to  your  in- 
terrogatories.    Yours,  respectfully, 

JOHN  ALLEN. 

Frederick  Starr,  Esq.,  Present. 

The  hour  of  adjournment  having  arrived,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Luckey, 
the  session  was  extended  half  an  hour. 

The  seventeenth  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 
17.  Resolved,  That  as  the  improved  facilities  for  conveying  intel- 
ligence, have,  as  it  were,  annihilated  time  and  distance,  the  running 
of  the  mail  and  the  opening  of  post-offices  on  the  Sabbath  day,  are 
great  and  unnecessary  burdens  inflicted  on  the  many  for  the  benefit 


83 

of  the  few — evil  in  llieir  example,  demoralizing  in  their  tendencies 
and  influence,  unequal,  exclusive,  and  oppressive  in  their  operation  ; 
and,  being  attended  witli  expense  altogether  disproj)ortionate  to  any 
benefit  received,  they  ought  to  be  immediately  discontinued. 

Mr.  Starr  said  that  he  wished  to  bring  forward  some  information 
before  the  queetion  wp.s  taken  on  this  resolution.  At  the  request  of 
some  citizens  of  Rochester,  about  a  year  ago  he  visited  the  rail-road 
companies  between  this  city  and  Albany,  and  examined  the  books  of 
each,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  receipts  of  each  day  of  the  week.  I 
spoke  to  them  of  the  propriety  of  making  contracts  to  carry  the  mail, 
only  six  days  instead  of  seven  in  the  xveek.  At  first,  this  was  deem- 
ed impracticable ;  but  before  I  left,  every  one  was  fully  convinced 
that  it  was  not.  The  receipts  on  all  the  roads  on  the  Sabbath  during 
the  year  1S40,  were  only  from  54  to  59  per  cent,  of  the  average  on 
the  other  days  ;  and  of  those  who  did  go  on  the  Sabbaih,  the  Super- 
intendent told  me  about  two-thirds  went  in  the  night,  to  avoid  being 
seen.  The  companies  West  of  the  Utica  and  Schenectady  road,  said 
they  would  put  in  propositions  as  suggested,  if  the  Eastern  compa- 
nies would  do  the  same.  But  the  Utica  and  Schenectady  company 
refused  to  do  it,  out  of  the  fear  that  public  sentiment  would  not  sus- 
tain them  in  it.  They  would  do  nothing  about  it,  unless  the  Post- 
Master  General  should  order  the  Sunday  mails  to  be  stopped.  Just 
about  this  time,  Post-Master  General  Niles  annihilated  at  a  single 
blow,  all  the  Sabbath  mails  in  the  United  States,  except  on  some  of 
the  great  routes. 

I  took  stock  in  the  rail-road  between  this  city  and  Auburn,  and 
held  it  until  there  was  no  hope  of  stopping  the  Sabbath  desecration, 
•and  then  scld  it.  As  the  Utica  company  had  refused  to  stop  the  cars, 
unless  the  Post-Master  General  would  stop  the  mails,  I  went  on  to 
Washington  ;  and  as  it  was  near  the  day  for  making  the  contract,  I 
hoped  that  such  an  arrangement  might  be  effected,  from  the  fact  that 
nearly  all  the  mails  had  already  been  stopped  by  the  fiat  of  the  Post- 
Master.  I  thought  this  gave  good  ground  to  believe  that  more  might 
be  done.  Many  of  the  routes  were  important,  but  none  as  much  so  as 
this.  I  staid  at  Baltimore  on  Sunday,  and  went  to  Washington  on 
Monday,  where  I  saw  the  Post-Master,  and  spread  before  him  what 
had  been  done  on  the  subject,  and  spoke  of  the  petitions  addressed  to 
the  rail-road  companies,  by  two  or  three  hundred  citizens  of  Roches- 
ter. They  were  signed  entirely  by  business  men,  and  were  in  fact 
presented  to  no  others.  These  men  were  desirous  of  avoiding  the 
evils  that  ensued  from  the  stopping  of  cars  at  public  places,  and  from 
other  causes  inseparable  from  the  practice  of  running  the  cars  on  the 
Sabbath.  I  represented  that  the  facilities  for  transportation  had  so 
greatly  increased,  that  it  was  of  little  consequence  whether  the  mails 
went  on  Sunday.  The  only  thing  necessary  was,  that  the  news 
should  be  received  every  where  at  the  same  time.  I  laid  before  him 
all  the  facts  I  had  collected,  and  asked  what  objection  there  could  be 
to  stopping  the  mail.  He  said,  none,  if  the  citizens  from  Albany  to 
BufTalo  desired  it.  As  evidence  that  they  did  desire  it,  on  my  return 
I  sent  copies  of  petitions  I  had  obtained  in  all  the  places  I  had  visited. 
You  may  ask,  then,  why  the  mails  were  not  stopped.  I  can  only  re- 
6* 


84 

ply,  that  the  troubles  which  immediately  fcllowed,  at  political  head- 
quarters, the  death  of  the  President,  probably  prevented  any  farther 
thought  of  the  subject.  The  present  Post-Master  General,  though 
often  requested,  has  not  seen  fit  to  act  in  the  matter.  In  my  opinion, 
there  never  has  been  so  favorable  a  time  to  act  for  the  Post-Master 
General.  They  have  once  been  stopped  by  the  Democrats;  and  now 
if  tlie  V/higs  should  h'nish  it  up.  no  one  could  call  it  a  party  measure. 

It  was  said  by  the  Utica  and  Schenectady  company,  that  if  thev 
stopped,  the  boats  on  the  river  must  stop  also.  Certainly  they  would  ; 
and  of  so  much  gi'eafer  importance  is  it.  If  this  link  could  once  be 
Broken,  the  eiTect  would  be  felt  on  the  whole  civilized  world. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  resolution,  and  it  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

The  cii^hfeevth  resolution  was  then  read  as  follows  : 

18.  Resolved,  That  we  respectfully  and  earnestly  commend  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath  to  the  serious  consideration  of  all  the  friends 
of  humanity  throughout  the  world,  and  to  the  gracious  benediction  of 
Him  who  is  Lord  of  the  Sabbath  ;  in  whom  all  live,  and  move,  and 
have  their  being  ;  and  who  hath  said  to  each  individual,  "  Six  days 
shalt  thou  labor  and  do  all  thy  work  ;  but  the  seventh  is  the  Sabbath 
of  the  Lord  thy  God.  In  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy 
son,  nor  thy  daughter,  nor  thy  raan-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant, 
nor  the  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates." 

The  nineteenih  resolution  was  then  read  as  follows  : 

19.  Resolved,  'J'hat  the  proceedings  of  this  Convention  be  published 
and  circulated  as  extensively  as  practicable,  under  the  direction  of 
Aristarchus  Champion,  Tryon  Edwards,  Samuel  Luckey,  E.  F. 
Smith,  J.  B.  Shaw,  Pharcellus  Church.  John  Allen,  Jonathan  Child, 
Frederick  Starr,  N.  T.  Rochester,  and  Sidney  Allen  ;  and  that  the 
above-named  gentlemen  be  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  refer- 
ence to  this  subject,  with  power  to  call  another  Convention  at  such 
time  and  place  as,  in  their  judgment,  shall  seem  desirable. 

The  question  being  taken,  this  resolution  was  unanimously  adbp- 
ted. 

The  following  resolutions  were  then  introduced  by  Dr.  Luckey  : 

20.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  presented  to 
the  President,  Judge  Sutherland,  for  the  impartial,  dignified,  and 
highly  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  chair. 

21.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented  to 
our  Secretaries,  for  the  prompt  and  faithful  manner  in  which  they 
have  discharged  the  arduous  duties  of  their  office. 

The  question  being  taken,  they  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Rev.  Mr.  Beecher  moved  that  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be 
returned  to  the  citizens  of  Rochester,  for  their  kindness  and  hospital- 
ity  ;  and  to  the  several  churches,  for  the  use  of  their  houses  of  wor- 
ship.    The  motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

At  the  request  of  the  President,  Rev.  Mr.  Powell,  of  Cincinnati, 
offered  a  closing  prayer ;  and,  on  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned, 
sine  die. 


LIST  OF  DELEGATES. 


Jacob  Sutlicvland, Ge?)cra,  A'.  Y. 

Aristarclius  Cliampion,   Roclicslcr. 

Frederick  Whittlesey, " 

Rev.  S.  Luckey,  D.  D., 

E.  Rhodes, Manlins.  ^ 

G.  Hard,    . . ,. Albion.  ^ 

N.  W.  Howell, Canandaigua, 

Aslilcy  Sampson, Rorhcstrr. 

J.  B.  iSkinner,. ^ Wiioming, 

Rev.  Norris  Bull, Clark.son. 

"     J.  W.  Adams,  D.  D., Syracuse. 

' W.  Hubbell, .,..,. Canandaigua. 

Selah  Mathews, ,  Rochester, 

N.  T.  Rochester, " 

Rev.  Justin  Edwards,  D.  D., Andovcr,  Mass. 

"     TrN-on  Edwards, Rochester,  N.  Y. 

"     J.B.Shaw,.. 

"     Pharcellus  Church, " 

^'     A.G.Hall, 

"     Chester  Dewey,  D.  D., 

''     L.  E.  Lathrop,  D.  D., . , Auhtrn. 

"     Ira  Pcttibone, , Neic- York  Mills. 

"     W.  H.  Beecher, Bataria. 

"     Henry  Snyder, Bergen. 

William  P.  Hendrick, Parma. 

Rev.  Richard  Dunning, A.dams'  Basin. 

Richard  Dibble, . , Rochester, 

Harmon  Kingsbury, Cleveland,  O. 

Rev.  Gilbert  Williams, Wheatland. 

"     H.  B.  Pierpont, Avon. 

"     Timothy  Stowe, East  Bloomficld, 

Gurdon  Grant,  ., Troy. 

Pliny  A.  Moore, " 

Rev.  Timothy  Stillman, Dunkirk, 

Salmon  Hunt, Parma. 

M.  Eaton, Elbridgc. 

Rev.  Josiah  Pearson, Bergen. 

'•     C.  E.  Funnan, Victor. 

"     E.  Marsh, Nunda. 

John  G.  Parker Rochester. 

Rev.  William  Wisner, Rhica. 

"     Josiah  Partington, Knowlcsvillc. 


86 

Thomas  Wright, , Wolcott. 

Robert  Laird, Barre  Centre, 

Rev.  Asa  Rand, .^ Pompey. 

Jonathan  Child, , ^ .Rochester, 

Addison  Gardner, " 

Frederick  Starr, " 

Charles  Kenmore, .-...,.... ,. . .  Carlton. 

Lorin  B.  Tousley, Palmyra. 

Albert  Jessup. " 

George  G.  Jessup, " 

Kneeland  Fillmore, Walicorthi 

James  L.  Delaney,. " 

Rev.  E.  Child, Byron. 

Erastus  Cash, " 

Francis  Brown, ^     " 

Ira  Cook, ^ " 

Levi  Fisk, " 

Andrew  Green, " 

Thomas  Kempshall, Rochester. 

George  Hay  ward, , " 

Rev.  Alvah  Whitman, Parma. 

"     N.Otis, " 

Joshua  Tripp, , " 

Marcus  Holmes, Rochester. 

Allen  Harris, Central  Village. 

Rev.  Edwin  Hall, ...Norwalk,  Ct. 

"     De  Forest  Parsons, Honeoyc  Fulls. 

Charles  Howe,  . . »  ► , Perinion. 

Rev.  W.  F.  Curry, Loclq)ort. 

"     C.  W.  Gilman, Rushford. 

"     John  T.  Avery, , Cleveland,  O. 

"     S.  Crampton, .,.. Holly. 

Sidney  Allen, ,.. . .  ,. Rochester. 

Rev.  L.  Hull, ,Bansville. 

Thaddeus  Clark, Rochester. 

C.  H.  Carpenter, " 

Rev.  C.  Merwin, Sodus. 

G.  C.  Coit, , Biifalo. 

M.  S.  Hawley, " 

Raymond  Leonard, Cmcmnati,  O. 

Rev.  Charles  G.  Finne}-, Oierlin,  O. 

"     Ebenezer  Mead, Le  Roy. 

"     W.  S.  Burnham, Buffalo. 

Justin  Gates, Rochester. 

M.  Adams, " 

Rev.  James  B.  Olcott, Greene. 

Isaac  I.  Lewis, Scottsville. 

Abner  Adams, Ogden. 

James  Sperry, Henricila. 

P.  C.  Hastings, Rochester. 

Almeron  Bingham " 


87 

Robert  D:  Fov, Bvffah. 

William  U.  Rocd, ScMtsviUe. 

Elisha  Harmon, Wheatland. 

Janias  Ballontyne, Chili. 

P,  McNaui^hton, Scoltsville. 

E.  B.  Coleman, Le  Roy. 

F.  E.  Lord, Walworth. 

Rev.  R.  L.  Ilurlburt, ...Avon. 

Frederick  Munson, ^Ontario. 

A.  SedjTwick Ogden. 

W.  L  "CTiaplin, .  . . ,. Rochester. 

Roswell  Hart, .Brighton. 

Rev.  L.  H.  Angier, .Buffalo. 

"     J.  W.  Taggart, Si/racuse. 

"     P.  Powers, Knoiolesville. 

John  Taylor, Rochester. 

Rev.  B.  B.  Gray, » .Brighton. 

"     J.  E.  Colei South  Chili. 

John  Cady, Kingsdak,  Mass. 

Rev.  John  Selmscr, Lockport. 

"     A.  T.  Hopkins, Bufalo. 

O.  P.  Ramsdell, '• 

T.  Burwell, " 

J.  D;  White, " 

Rev.  R:  De  Forest, Rochester. 

"     R.  W.  Hill, East  Bloomfield. 

"     S.  S.  Havward; S.  T/  cnton,  Oneida' 

Pliny  Allen,  .\ Netv-  York.       [Ca; 

O.  N.  Bush, Rochester. 

Henry  Brewster, Le  Roy. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mulhauser, Rochester. 

P.  B.  Cook, " 

J.  M.  Goodman " 

Willis  Kempshall, " 

Milton  Sheldon, Mcndon. 

James  Seymour, . . . .  „ .Rochester. 

Mortimer  Strong " 

Rev.  Jacob  Burbank, ., Marion. 

"     Philo  Woodworlh, Bvffalo. 

Samuel  Wilkcson,  . . . ,. " 

E.  F.  Smith, Rochester. 

D.  Pv.  Barton, 

Charles  Simmons, -ZV.  Wrentham,Mass. 

E.  Darwin  Smith, Rochester. 

Rev.  J^.  J.  Slocum, Manlius. 

Johnson  Hall, ► .  Syracuse,- 

A.  Bates, 

Ebenczcr  Walker, Le  Roy. 

Emos  Bachelor, " 

I.  F.  Mack, '  .Rochester. 

R.  V.  Robbins, 


V.  Smalley, Byron. 

Rev.  John  J.  Shippen, .Buffalo. 

J.  T.  Orton, 

Nathan  Huntington, .„ . .  .Rochester. 

James  K.  Livingston, " 

Charles  J.  Hill, " 

Charles  M.  Lee, " 

Virgil  Reed, Ogde7i. 

Rev.  W.  C.  Wisner, Lockport. 

"     D.  K.  Gaily, .- .Rochester. 

Moses  Long, " 

R.  VV.  Goold, .Brockpori, 

Henry  Dwight, - Geneva. 

Rev.  Pvloses  Gillet, , ..,  Sweden. 

Philemon  Canfield, .Rochester. 

Everard  Peck, " 

Moses  Chapin, , " 

L.  A.  Ward,... " 

Moses  King, " 

William  Atkinson, " 

Rev.  H.  Wallis, Gates. 

E.  W.  Kellogg, Auburn. 

R.  Hollister, Le  Roy. 

Peter  Cherry, Rochester. 

Ralph  Clapp, Parma. 

D.  Ward, Le  Roy. 

Austin  Day, ..Holley. 

Rev.  A.  S.  Shaver, ,.. ....... .Rochester. 

Richard  B.  Thomas. ,..., " 

John  Robinson, Webster.  [ary, 

G.  F.  Needham, Union  Theo.  Semin. 

Charles  W.  Torrey, Rochester. 

James  Woodhouse, .,.. " 

Hervey  Lyon, «' 

Joshua  Tripp, .Parma. 

Lee  Comstock, Le  Roy. 

Samuel  Skinner, " 

H.  Stanwood, ,  . , .  Rush. 

Rev.  B.  B.  Stockton, .Brockpori. 

P.  B.  Ripley, Livonia. 

William  C.  Bloss, Rochester. 

William  T.  Torrey, Murray. 

Azel  Ensworth, Rochester. 

Lemuel  Brooks, Webster. 

Alvah  Strong, RocJiester. 

John  Biden,  Jun., " 

Frederick  Lowell, " 

Piatt  Smith, « 

D.  B.  Loder,. . .,, " 

H.  A.  Brewster,. , , " 

Thomas  Weddle, " 


89 

Rev.  Thomas  Carlton, Rochester. 

Lyman  Manley, Ontario,  Wayne  Co. 

Samuel  Hamilton .Rochester. 

John  C.  Nash, 

J.  C.  Morse, , . . . . Lochport. 

George  Beach, 

Rev.  J.  M.  Sherwood, ..Mendon.  [Co. 

"     W.  N.  Benedict,  ....  * • Richmond,    Ontario 

"     James  D.  Moore, Black  Rock. 

"     R.  K.  Conklin, Pike,  Allegany  Co, 

\.  C.  Ford,. East  Victor. 

Rev.  Cyrus  Hudson. Mount  Morns. 

Rev.  J.  Copeland, Lima. 

E.  Ford,  . . ..  „ Victor. 

Rev.  L.  W.  Billington, ,■ Scottsville. 

R.  B.  Hickok Buffalo. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Stowell,. .  ^ East  Avon. 

Harry  Pratt, Rochester. 

William  S.  Bishop, " 

Rev.  L.  Brewster, Livonia. 

"     M.  P.  Squires, Geneva. 

Charles  Church, Ogden. 

Rev.  O.  S.  Powell, Cincinnati,  O. 

"     E.  Whitney, Netc-York. 

N.  H.  'Gardner, Buffalo. 

G.  L.  Hubbard, " 

George  Davis, " 

Parker  Buel, Honeoye  Falls. 

George  E.  Delavan, Penjield. 

•Rev.  J.  Hopkins, .- Auburn. 

J.  S.  Bartlett, " 

T.  M.  Hunt, , " 

Horace  Hotchkiss, " 

H.  H.  Cooley,..-, " 

Rev.  G.  R.  Rudd, -, .      " 

"     T.  R.  Tovvnsend, " 

D.  L.  Pickard, Niagara  County. 

Rev.  N.  W.  Fisher, .Palmyra. 

George  N.  Tifft, Holly. 

Thomas  V.  Sullivan, Osioego. 

Rev.  D.  D.  Buck, LeRoy. 

"     C.  S.  Baker, Chili. 

Chauncey  Nash, Rochester. 

H.Hall, '^ 

S.  Wetherell, " 

Benjamin  Tabor, Buffalo. 

D.  Fellows,  Jun., Spcncerport. 

Rev.  John  M.  Eraser, Vermont. 

"     Stephen  Porter, Caslleton. 

Leonard  Adams, Rochester. 

Alanson  Cook, " 

■ft 


^9^ 


Note. — The  various  speeches  contained  herein,  with  theexception 
of  tiVat  ol"  the  Rev.  Mr,  Stillman,  are  published  as  given  in  the  notes 
of  the  Reporter. 


■m 


APPENDIX 


Rochester,  March  24,  1842. 

To  ilie  Forwarders  of  Merdmndize  upon  the  Erie  Canal : 

We,  the  subscribers,  business  men  of  the  city  of  Rochester, 
feeling  ourselves  deeply  impressed  with  the  propriety  and  duty  of 
keeping  the  Sabbath-day  holy,  respectfully  request  you  so  to- ar- 
range your  business  upon  the  canal,  as  not  to  render  it  necet'sary  that 
individuals  in  your  employment  should  be  required  to  violate  thia 
command,  "  Remember  the  Sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days 
shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy  work  ;  but  the  seventh  day  is  the 
Sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God  :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou, 
nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servsnl, 
nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates." 


H.  A.  Crewster, 
W.W.  Brewster  &  Co 
Pierce  &  Osborne, 
G.  A.  Avery  &  Co., 
J.  D.  Jones, 
William  Pitkin, 
Philip  Thurber, 
Ciiurch  &  Ball, 

Spencerport, 
Ciiarles  Hendrix, 
Avery, Thurber  &:  Co. 
Swan  &  Wells, 
E.  Huntington, 
Avery  &:.  Burke, 
C.  A.  Burr, 
H.  C.  Fenn, 
Barton  6c  Smith, 
C.  Avery  &  Co., 
Hall  &  Roberts, 
S.  W.  Haight  &  Co., 
E.  F.  Smith  &  Co., 
James  K.  Livingston, 
John  Fairbanks  &:Co. 
Lyman  Cook  &  Co., 
Abram  Truax, 
G.W.Burbank&Co. 
N.  H.  Oatley, 


J.  McMillen  &  Co., 
.  P.  W.  Jennings, 

B.  P.  Robinson, 
Samuel  Hamilton, 
Timothy  Chapman, 
F.  F.  Parker, 

D.  P.  Powers, 
Edward  Bardwell, 
Stephen  Y.  Ailing, 
Jacob  Graves, 

,  William  Andrews, 
Hiram  Banker, 
S.  B.  Stoddard, 
F.  W.  Lincoln, 

E.  D.  Shelmire, 

C.  Truman, 
Henry  C.  Church, 
Ebcnezer  Watts, 
A.  Murray, 
Daniel  Welch, 
G.W.  Fisher  &  Co., 
Erastus  Cook, 

,  J.  H.  Hayes, 
George  Byington, 
James  Henderson, 

,  Thomas  J.  Patterson, 
Smith  >k  Allcott, 


Samuel  Richardson, 
P.  P.  Peck, 
A.  B.  Brown, 
H.  Lyon, 
Sage  &;  Pancost, 
M.Xvei-&Co., 
Hervey  Lyon, 
A.  J.  Brackett  &  Co., 
SethC.  Jones  &  Co., 
J.  E.  Congdon, 
C.  W.  Dundas, 
Sholtus  &  Gray, 
George  A.  Wilkin, 
Patrick  KTearney, 
M.  B.  Bateham,. 
John  F.  Bush, 
Louis  Chapin, 
G.  A.  Madden, 
J.  M.  Winslow, 
.fohn  Stitt, 
Ciiarles  J.  Hill, 
H.  B.  Williams, 
Preston  Smith  &  Co., 
N.  Lyman, 
Thomas  Kempshall, 
William  Cook, 
Cheney  &  Hunter, 


William  C.  Foster, 
H.  Stanwood  &  Co., 
V.  R.  Rowe, 
Sibley  &  Scrantom, 
R.  Richardson, 
James  Gorsline, 
M.  B.  Edson, 
James  H.  Palmer, 
Thomas  Barnard, 
Joseph  Hall, 


92 

R.  B.  Thomas,  J.  &  D.  Hawks  &  Co., 

H.  Ely,  H.  Warren, 

Frederick  Starr,  J.  H.  Lockwood, 

T.  A.  Parker,  Kempshall  &  Knapp,     I 

Rufus  Keeler,  J.  L.  Lucas, 

N.  B.  Merick,  Walter  S.  Griffith, 

D.  Dickey,  Charles  Morion,  j 

Wm.  P.  &  H.  Stanton,  Brittin  &  Wilder, 

W.  C.  Storrs,  Hitchcock  &  Wapples, 

John  Hay woodj  David  Hoyt. 


Rochester,  March  24, 1842. 

Gentlemen : 

Enclosed,  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  present  to  you  the  request 
of  a  large  number  of  Merchants  and  Millers  of  this  city,  that  5'our 
Board  of  Forwarders,  as  a  body,  would  so  arrange  their  business  as 
not  to  render  it  necessary  that  those  now  in  your  employ,  should  be 
required  to  violate  the  Sabbath.  The  wisdom  of  the  command  "  to 
keep  it  holy,"  cannot  fail  to  be  admired  by  all  who  understand  the 
physiology  of  our  natures  ;  and  the  Christian  who  appreciates  the 
propriety  of  obeying  God's  law,  is  pained  at  the  impunity  with  which 
it  is  profaned.  Very  few  Merchants  to  whom  this  has  been  presented, 
have  refused  their  sanction  ;  and  many  others  whom  we  know  person- 
ally to  favor  the  object,  have  not  had  an  opportunity  to  sign  it.  Hop- 
ing that  this  expression  will  not  fail  to  receive  from  your  board  that  fa- 
vorable consideration  its-merits  demand, 

in  behalf  of  Bethel  Committee, 

I  remain  your  obedient  servant,  I 

H.  A.  BREWSTER,  j 

Secretary. 
To  THE  Board  of  Forwarders,  Rochester. 


Subsequent  to  the  preceding,  the  following  circular  was  circula- 
ted  among  the  citizens  of  Rochester,  and  obtained  the  signatures 
hereunto  attached. 

The  undersigned  citizens  of  Rochester,  interested  in  the  travelling 
and  transportation  upon  our  rail-roads  and  canals,  hereby  express  our 
'Opinion  that  the  prosecution  of  these  employments  upon  the  Sabbath 
day  is  unauthorised  by  any  necessity,  and  much  to  be  lamented  as  a 
violation  of  the  laws  of  God  and  of  this  State.  And  we  earnestly 
recommend  to  the  proprietors  of  all  the  rail-roads,  stages,  and  trans- 
portation lines,  with  all  others  engaged  in  labor  and  business  on  that 
day,  its  immediate  discontinuance,  that  this  whole  people  ma)''  enjoy 
the  benefits  resulting  from  "  remembering  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it 
holy,"  as  God  has  commanded. 


Aristarchus  Champion, 
O.  Hastings, 
Henry  Scrantom, 


Isaac  Hills, 
A.  Reynolds, 
Oren  Sage, 


93 


''incent  Mathews, 
■  cth  C.  Jones, 
'hornas  B.  Husband, 
1:.  Peck, 
f.  M.  Dalzell, 
•eorgc  Gould, 
/illium  Pitkin, 
enry  Cady, 

J.  Robins, 

Morse, 

Gardiner, 

F-  Delano, 
hn  Stitt, 

illiain  Burke, 

rlton  M.  Avery, 

W.  Gilbert, 
M.  Schermerhoni,. 
Incy  Allen, 
auncey  Nash, 

A.  Hopkins, 

F.  Hall, 

H.  Roberts, 
muel  D.  Porter, 
Allison, 

W.  Bryan, 
in  Stroup, 
neas  B.  Cook, 
ley  &c  Scraniom, 
3%  Andrews, 

rge  Byington, 
)rge  W.  Pratt, 
).  flusbands, 

:hild, 

Dewey, 

1  Ensworth, 

Fish, 
^.  Biiell, 
3.  Thomas, 
Mead, 
H.  Cheney, 
lerick  Starr, 
liam  Ailing, 
•ge  W.  Beardslee, 
la  Chapin, 
^leaveland  Bradstreet, 

H.  Thompson, 
"les  L.  Clarke, 
ry  W.  Davis, 

ev  Lyon, 
^V.  Reid, 
r.  Talman, 


D,  Scoville, 
Jacob  Gould, 
Abner  Wake  lee, 
H.  A.  Brewster, 
Moses  Chapin, 
Samuel  Miller, 
Joseph  Higgins, 
Levi  Pierce, 
Samuel  B.  Chase, 
J.  A.  Eastman, 
P.  P.  Peck, 
O  N.  Bush, 
Edmund  Lyon, 
Samuel  Hamilton, 
Lowell  Bullen, 
E.  Peshine  Smith, 
William  W.  Brewster, 
A.  W.  Riley, 
E.  Pomeroy, 
E.  D.  Smith, 
Roderick  Wales, 
J.  K.  Livingston, 
G.  II.  Mumford, 
George  R.  Clarke, 
Barton  &  Smith, 
Samuel  Richardson, 
G.  A.  Hoi  lister, 
A.  Becker, 
T.  B.  Forsyth, 
Joseph  Farley, 
N.  G.  Squier, 
William  J.  Southerin, 
C.  A.  Burr, 
William  S.  Bishop, 
John  Allen, 
James  W.  Thomas, 
E.  D.  Shelmire, 
E.  Cook, 
H.  K.  Jerome, 
Rufus  Meech, 
Rufus  Keeler, 
C.  M.  Lee, 
L.  Farrar, 
E.  Pan  cost, 
L.  A.  Ward, 
W.  S.  Phil  pot, 
N.  T.  Rochester, 
Charles  W.  Dundas, 
A.  G.  Bristol  &■  Co., 
Silas  H.  Frink, 
Alvah  Strong, 


94 


W.  E.  Lathrop, 

Ashley  Sampson, 
J.  H.  Hayes, 
John  Fairbanks, 
William  A.  Welles. 
E.  F.  Smith, 
James  P.  Steele, 
C.  H.  Sholtus, 

C.  H.  Bicknell, 
S.  Garbutt, 

L-  S.  Chadwick, 
Carlos  Cobb, 
Robert  Shields, 
G.  A.  Madden, 
J.  H.  Seward, 
M.  Strong, 
Robert  A.  V/ilson, 
Smith  W.  Arnold, 
S.  F.  Witherspoon, 
H.  L.  Achilles, 
James  Henderson, 
Henry  M.  Ward, 
John  G.  Gray, 
Lyman  Potter, 
James  Chappell, 
Alexander  Kelsey, 
Richard  Dibble, 
Thomas  J.  Patterson, 

A.  B.  Brown, 
Comus  Dyer, 
M.  Dyer  &  Co., 
H.  B.  Sherman, 
Stoddard  &  Freeman, 

D.  H.  Osborn, 

B.  P.  Robinson, 
Geo.  Shelton, 
Lyman  Cook, 
T.  B.  Hamilton, 
H.  L.  Stevens, 
B.  R.  M'Alpine, 
H.  A.  Tucker, 
J.  H.  Tucker, 
A.  H.  Redding, 
J.  B.  Dewey, 
W.  W.  Allcott, 
Marcus  Morse, 

J.  C.  Rich  &  Co., 
John  Van  Brunt, 


Enos  Stone, 
F.  M.  Haight, 
Ira  Carpenter, 
Frank  H.  Hamilton, 
William  C.  Storrs, 
Alfred  Ely, 
Peter  Cherry, 
Selah  Mathews, 
James  C.  Wells, 
E.  K.  Blyth, 
M.  B.  Seward, 
E.  Huntington, 
A.  E.  Pardee, 
Elias  Weed, 
H.  C.  Fenn, 
Ellery  S.  Treat, 
M.  H.  Blood, 
Nathan  Lyman, 
Samuel  B.  Dewey, 
Timothy  Chapman, 
Titus  Goodman, 
J.  B.  Bennett, 
James  Brackett, 
Samuel  Hamilton, 
N.  B.  Mirick, 
Ira  Haskins, 
L.  &  H.  Churchill, 
William  Graves, 
Ephraim  Moore, 
H.  Humphrey, 
Abraham  Truax, 
Aaron  Erickson, 
J.  H.  Palmer, 
James  O'Maly, 
John  Hawks, 
Lewis  H.  Ailing, 
E.  H.  Grover, 
H.  Banker, 
Erastus  Shepard, 
George  A.  Avery, 
George  W.  Parsons, 
Rich,  Ellison,  &  Co., 
Jacob  Graves, 
Charles  J.  Hill, 
Elisha  D.  Ely, 
Jehiel  Towner, 
H.  Wells, 
H.  Ely. 


4621  Tq  /2i 


Princeto 


n  Theological  Seminary  gr^^^^^^ 


7Toi2  01171    9616 


